Compact Spaceborne Magnetic Observatory (COSMO)

The goal of this NSRTF Proposal is to design, build and test a magnetometer instrumentation package for space while decreasing volume, mass and power needs. The instrument will consist of a miniaturized optical magnetometer designed to take scalar and vector measurements, an attitude determination system, and an optical bench that will serve as the integration platform for the instrument. An optical magnetometer utilizes the effect that magnetic fields have on the precession rate of the magnetic spin of atoms to accurately and precisely measure the magnetic field present. Furthermore, an attitude determination system provides precise knowledge of the orientation of the magnetic field. In order to achieve this goal, the proposed project includes the adaptation of an existing miniaturized optical magnetometer to have vector measuring capabilities. This adaptation will include mechanical changes, as mutually orthogonal coils will need to be added, as well as changes in the electronics and software of the system to accommodate the additional information that the instrument will provide. The system will be built and tested for accuracy, precision, reliability and the ability to survive in space. Considerations to take into account for any instrument to survive in space include: radiation tolerance, resistance to temperature changes and the capability to survive the vibrations experienced during launch. The instrument's packaging will be designed such that it can contain the magnetometer and an off-the-shelf attitude determination system from Blue Canyon Technologies while maintaining alignment. Precise alignment of the two subsystems allows the vector components of the magnetic field to be accurately determined. Alignment biases and errors will be calibrated during testing. The optical bench will be designed to avoid expansion, contraction or warping due to any of the conditions of space, the most hazardous being temperature variations. In the optical bench mechanical design the material chosen must be resistant to temperature changes and must be non-conductive to avoid the introduction of external magnetic fields to the magnetometer's measurement. During the design process, mechanical, thermal, and dynamics models will be built to meet the different specifications described above; these models will then be compared to the results of testing. This instrument will be built at the University of Colorado Boulder, utilizing the facilities available in the Aerospace Engineering Science department. Performance and environmental tests will ensure that all specifications are met. Testing facilities will include a thermal vacuum chamber, a vibration table, and a magnetic shielding enclosure for noise characterization. An alignment test apparatus will be designed during the development of the instrument. This proposal will further the capabilities of space magnetometers and allow them to be used in smaller satellites including CubeSats, without compromising the precision and accuracy of the measurements. As the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, and this solicitation specifically, aims to further develop field and particle detectors such as magnetometers, the proposed project will further NASA's technological objectives. This magnetometer instrument will further address the scientific objectives of NASA with the ability to obtain data relevant to planetary and heliophysics science.

This proposal will further the capabilities of space magnetometers and allow them to be used in smaller satellites including CubeSats, without compromising the precision and accuracy of the measurements. As the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, and this solicitation specifically, aims to further develop field and particle detectors such as magnetometers, the proposed project will further NASA's technological objectives. This magnetometer instrument will further address the scientific objectives of NASA with the ability to obtain data relevant to planetary and heliophysics science.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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