Magnetic low-frequency sensors developed at UNN are orbiting the Earth
Magnetic low-frequency sensors produced by the UNN Radiophysics Research Institute (RRI) have been placed into orbit by the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle. The launch was performed on November 5 from pad 1C of the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
The sensors are part of the instrument complex on two Ionosphere-M satellites, No.1 and No.2. These spacecraft are designed to observe physical phenomena arising in the Earth's ionosphere as a result of active natural and anthropogenic impacts, changes in the spatial and temporal structure of the ionosphere, perturbations of electromagnetic fields, composition of the Earth's atmosphere and ozone distribution in its upper layers, and monitoring of the radiation environment.
“Since 2019, the UNN Radiophysics Research Institute has been carrying out a project to develop a magnetic low-frequency sensor for the complex of dedicated equipment of the Ionozond space project. The Ionozond project is aimed at monitoring near-Earth space and at fundamental research of space plasma and wave processes in it. The project envisages the creation of a space constellation of four Ionosphere-M satellites and one Zond-M satellite. Two satellites equipped with our sensors have been successfully launched into orbit,” said Oleg Trofimov, Rector of Lobachevsky University.
Magnetic sensors designed and manufactured by the experts of the UNN Radiophysics Research Institute have unique characteristics. In particular, the level of intrinsic noise of the sensors is an order of magnitude lower than the level of natural noise of the Earth, which makes them highly sought-after for a number of geophysical applications (geological exploration, monitoring of natural and artificial perturbations of the magnetic field).
"For the first time in 40 years, our Radiophysics Research Institute has produced and delivered space instruments, which is a unique event for the Nizhny Novgorod region. It would not have been possible without the well-coordinated work of the institute, the university management and the university-wide services. A number of tasks were successfully solved with the support of the UNN Advanced Engineering School "Space Communication, Radar and Navigation", noted Alexey Shindin, Director of the UNN RRI.
He also emphasized that the launch of the two satellites will expand the range of work performed by RRI scientists in the field of geophysics in the coming years. The orbit of the satellites will ensure their passage over the unique SURA facility of Lobachevsky University twice a day, which will make it possible to conduct a number of new scientific experiments. The work on the magnetic sensors was performed by UNN RRI experts under the contract with the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
