Magnetic sensors made at Lobachevsky University are successfully tested in orbit
Starting from March 2025, researchers of the UNN Radiophysics Research Institute (RRI) have been preparing scientific experiments that will involve the SURA multifunctional facility for near-Earth and outer space research, as well as receiving and transmitting equipment of Lobachevsky University’s radiophysical research sites and Ionosphere-M satellites. The orbit of the satellites allows them to fly twice a day over the ionosphere’s perturbed region created by Lobachevsky University’s SURA facility. Ionosphere-M satellites No.1 and No.2 carry a complex of scientific equipment, including magnetic low-frequency sensors developed at UNN RRI.
"The first data have already been obtained from our sensors and also from other instruments. In February 2025, we presented this information at the Twentieth Conference “Physics of Plasma in the Solar System” at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The equipment installed on the satellites is in good working order and is ready to carry out the research programme," said Alexey Shindin, Director of the UNN Radiophysics Research Institute.
Thus, the first series of experiments is scheduled to start in May, which will provide new information on the dynamics of ionospheric disturbances, on space weather and the possibility of influencing it.
“Subsequently, the research intensity should only increase, as two more similar satellites, also equipped with our ultra-sensitive magnetic sensors, are scheduled to be launched into orbit this summer,” Alexey Shindin pointed out.
Magnetic low-frequency sensors produced by the UNN Radiophysics Research Institute were placed into orbit by the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle on November 5.
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 also to monitor the radiation environment.
The instruments made by UNN researchers are characterized by unique features. 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 determines their demand for a number of geophysical tasks, such as geological exploration, monitoring of natural and artificial perturbations of the magnetic field.
The magnetic sensors were developed and manufactured by UNN RRI experts under the contract with the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
