TERSAT: A University Nanosat Program Satellite to Remove Radiation from Earth's Atmosphere

TERSat will complement the Air Force Research Labs’ (AFRL) Demonstration Scientific Experiment (DSX). Research in the scattering high-energy particles is of interest to all space-based military and civilian missions. The orbital space in the Van Allen belts offers many opportunities but is currently under-utilized due to the high flux of energetic particles. Even with radiation hardening techniques, space systems will rapidly degrade in a plasma severely shortening their lifespan. TERSat provides a solution for operating within the radiation belts at a reduced monetary and mass cost. TERSat shall pulse Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron waves from deployed antennas at a frequency of 50-150 Hz, to resonate with the trapped particles and induce a greater loss cone. TERSat satisfies its mission by operating in an orbit of 550 km with 20° of inclination. Using deployed rigid antennas, TERSat shall pulse every six orbits for duration of at least 30 seconds. The incoherent scatter radar in Arecibo, Puerto Rico will serve as the scientific ground station for validating and measuring the scattering of particles into the loss cone. The TERSat bus is a 16’x12’x12’ skinned ISO grid structure with a total mass of 40.3 kg. The TERSat payload consists of a high voltage electrical system to drive two 2.5-meter dipole antennas. Power for the system comes from body mounted solar cells to charge batteries and a capacitor bank for the payload. During nominal operations, the satellite will draw 9.1 watts of power; active mission operations requires1 kW of power. Further, TERSat will utilize the HETE 2 ground stations for communications.