Development of an Aurora Camera (Participation in FACTORS)

We are currently preparing to develop an aurora camera as part of an ultra-small satellite project.

We are seeking students interested in engineering and optics. No experience necessary.

FACTORS (Formation flight of CubeSats for the Advanced Characterisation of Terrestrial and Outer-space Radiation Structures) is a satellite project conceived by the Japanese space science community to simultaneously conduct direct observation and remote sensing of the Earth-space system using a constellation of ultra-small satellites.

 

Project overview

FACTORS aims to conduct high-time-resolution observations of plasma particles, waves, electric fields, and magnetic fields in the Earth’s magnetosphere through formation flight of one parent satellite and multiple ultra-small satellites. This is expected to clarify plasma processes across multiple spatial scales from the electron scale to the ion scale, as well as causal relationships between different scales, thereby deepening our understanding of Earth-space interaction mechanisms.

 

Role of the Yoshikawa-Yoshikawa Laboratory

Building on previous knowledge and technology, we have commenced development of an aurora camera (primarily an ultraviolet camera). The design of the equipment is now in its preliminary stages, and the actual development phase is about to begin.

 

ISS (International Space Station) Movie (25x speed)