ESA Approves Development of NanoMagSat Constellation

ebruary 21, 2024 - The European Space Agency (ESA) has greenlit the development of the NanoMagSat constellation, marking a significant advancement in the use of small satellites for scientific missions. .

NanoMagSat, a flagship mission spearheaded by Open Cosmos together with Université Paris Cité, Institut de physique du globe de Paris and CEA-Léti, aims to revolutionise our understanding of Earth's magnetic field and ionospheric environment. As a follow on from ESA's successful Swarm mission, NanoMagSat will use a constellation of three 16U satellites equipped with state-of-the-art instruments to monitor magnetic fields and ionospheric phenomena. This mission is joining the Scout family, a programme from ESA to deliver scientific small satellite missions within a budget of less than €35 million.

The decision to proceed with NanoMagSat follows the successful completion of Risk Retirement Activities including the development of a 3m-long deployable boom and a satellite platform with exceptional magnetic cleanliness, key to ensuring state-of-the art magnetic accuracy. 

Florian Deconinck, VP of Growth at Open Cosmos, said of this news:

“ESA's approval of the NanoMagSat constellation is a testament to the hard work of the whole team here at Open Cosmos. It signifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what small satellites can provide for Earth Observation and underscores the strong, collaborative relationship we have built with ESA since the company was founded”

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