Speaker: Professor Robert Wicks (Northumbria)
Title: Technology Developments for the Future of In-Situ Space Science
Abstract:
This talk will start with a motivation for the need for novel multi-spacecraft science missions and measurements of in-situ plasma processes. These will be developed into science requirements for a novel electron instrument and a design concept presented for both the instrument and a low-cost multi-spacecraft mission concept. The challenges presented by high-data rate small-sat missions will be discussed and the recent development by Northumbria University of novel intersatellite and space-ground optical communications technologies and how they can enable novel science missions will be described. Finally, I will describe some alternative exciting uses of optical communications terminals and how they can enable a diverse set of space science missions, including Moon exploration, radio astronomy, and planetary seismology.