Nanosatellite High-Precision Magnetic Missions Enabled by Advances in a Stand-Alone Scalar/Vector Absolute Magnetometer

Abstract

A new generation of Absolute Scalar Magnetometers (ASM) is currently flown on the LEO satellites of the ESA Swarm mission. These instruments routinely and simultaneously provide 1 Hz absolute scalar values 1pT/Hz <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1/2</sup> resolution, [DC-0.4 Hz] bandwidth) and self-calibrated vector components of the magnetic field (2nT/ Hz <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1/2</sup> resolution), but can also be run in a scalar burst mode, providing 250 Hz absolute scalar values ([DC-100 Hz] bandwidth). Efforts towards miniaturizing and improving this instrument are now under way with CNES support in the context of a preliminary study for a 12U nanosatellite mission (NanoMagSat) that could complement the Swarm constellation. This advanced ASM could operate in an even more useful mode, simultaneously providing high sampling (400 Hz) absolute scalar data and self-calibrated 1 Hz vector data. Here, we illustrate the science such an instrument could enable and report on the status of the NanoMagSat project that could take advantage of it.