Satellite

Preliminary satellite layout

The payload includes numerous sensors to observe the TLEs and to perform in-situ measurements of perturbations caused on the local plasma (fields, waves and particles). The satellite uses a platform from the MYRIADE series. The upper side, which carries the payload, will be pointed towards Earth.

Taranis satellite

The payload includes the following elements:

Instruments location on the satellite

• MCP, set of 2 cameras and 3 photometers,
  
  • 30 images/s, 512x512 pixels and luminance measurements of the different high-resolution spectral bands;

• XGRE, set of 3 X and rays detectors,
  
  • measurements of high-energy photons between 20 keV and 10 MeV and relativistic electrons between 1 MeV to 10 MeV;

• IDEE, set of 2 electron detectors,
  
  • measurements of high-energy electron spectrums between 70 KeV and 4 MeV;

• IME-BF, LF antenna to measure electric fields,
  
  • measurement of an electric component between 0 and 1 MHz;

• IME-HF, HF antenna to measure electric fields,
  
  • measurement of an electric component between 100 kHz and 30 MHz

• IMM, a tri-axial search coil magnetometer to measure the alternative magnetic field:
  - IMM-BF, 2 mono-band coils to measure the LF field;
  - IMM-MF, 1 dual band coil to measure the LF and MF field;
  
  • measurement of 3 components of between a few Hz to 20 kHz, and of a component of 10 kHz up to 1 MHz;

• MEXIC, a set of 2 electronic boxes comprised of the 8 analyzers associated with the instruments, providing electronic power to the instruments, management of the payload modes and the interface with the Mass Storage and the platform computer. MEXIC also ensures the synchronization of the instruments from events detections by the photometers.

MEXIC main functions are:

• provide secondary voltage to the various instruments,
• receive data from the Platform computer and decode the Time Tagged commands from the PL workplan established by the CMS, processed one-by-one (without having to manage deadlines),
• receive and decode immediate commands sent by the platform (SHM, for example),
• manage the instruments (ON/OFF, configuration, modes),
• monitor correct operation of PL (temperatures, consumption, etc.),
• implement the trigger strategy for instruments according to the event,
• manage the acquisition sequence triggered by an event,
• format and date data, both scientific and housekeeping in X band,
• format and date housekeeping data in S band,
• manage the transfer of data to the Mass Storage,
• serve as a host structure for instrumentation analyzers,
• enable make in-flight modifications to analyzer software,
• enable to make in-flight modifications to the MEXIC software.