MinXSS-2 CubeSat mission overview: Improvements from the successful MinXSS-1 mission. Issue 1 (1st July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mason, James Paul; Woods, Thomas N.; Chamberlin, Phillip C.; Jones, Andrew; Kohnert, Rick; Schwab, Bennet; Sewell, Robert; Caspi, Amir; Moore, Christopher S.; Palo, Scott; Solomon, Stanley C.; Warren, Harry
• Is Part Of: Advances in space research. Volume 66:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2020-07-01
• Subjects: CubeSat -- Remote sensing -- Solar physics; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2019.02.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0273-1177

Abstract

Abstract: The second Miniature X-ray Solar Spectrometer (MinXSS-2) CubeSat, which begins its flight in late 2018, builds on the success of MinXSS-1, which flew from 2016-05-16 to 2017-05-06. The science instrument is more advanced – now capable of greater dynamic range with higher energy resolution. More data will be captured on the ground than was possible with MinXSS-1 thanks to a sun-synchronous, polar orbit and technical improvements to both the spacecraft and the ground network. Additionally, a new open-source beacon decoder for amateur radio operators is available that can automatically forward any captured MinXSS data to the operations and science team. While MinXSS-1 was only able to downlink about 1 MB of data per day corresponding to a data capture rate of about 1%, MinXSS-2 will increase that by at least a factor of 6. This increase of data capture rate in combination with the mission's longer orbital lifetime will be used to address new science questions focused on how coronal soft X-rays vary over solar cycle timescales and what impact those variations have on the earth's upper atmosphere.