ENABLING SMALL CUBESAT SATELLITE FOR IONOSPHERIC SENSING WITH SINGLE FREQUENCY GNSS DATA

• Grant number: 24/07062-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Marcio Tadeu de Assis Honorato Muella
• Grantee: Ana Lucia Christovam de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The rapid growth in the CubeSats satellite constellation, driven by the modernization of miniaturized components and cost reductions, has led to the use of single-frequency GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receivers on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. These receivers consume less energy compared to dual frequency receivers, allowing for significant optimization of space exploration. However, most previous studies on monitoring the ionospheric layer with LEO satellites have focused on dual frequency receivers, thus excluding a large number of satellites with the potential for ionospheric measurements. In this context, this project aims to fill this gap, considering the rapid expansion of CubeSats satellites with single frequency GNSS receivers. The main objective of this project is to develop an ionospheric model using single frequency GNSS data collected by LEO satellites. In addition to providing a technique to enable new sensors for ionospheric monitoring, the project also aims to contribute to improving the determination of GNSS satellite orbits and understanding the behavior of the plasmasphere during geomagnetic storms. This effort aims to mitigate potential impacts in the areas of navigation, communications, and aerospace