Ex-Alta 1 (Experimental Albertan #1, EXALTA-1, CA03)

Part of QB50 to study lower termosphere and demonstrate fluxgate magnetometer.

Serve as a platform for the In Orbit Demonstration (IOD) of a digital fluxgate magnetometer designed at the University of Alberta. Address multi-point space plasma physics with data from the QB50 constellation using the Langmuir probe common payloads and the digital fluxgate magnetometer. Promote education of space science and engineering through all levels of the educational sector of Alberta.

Provide a foundation on which to begin a space engineering, space science and/or cube satellite program at the University of Alberta. Promote the development of an Albertan commercial space industry and augmentation of current staple industries with space technology.

The QB50 multi-Needle Langmuir Probe (mNLP) experiment will study variations in ion densities. These measurements can be used to better quantify how the Earth’s atmosphere expands and contracts into low Earth orbit. Will also enable the collection of information to study the effects of re-entry.

A Digital Fluxgate Magnetometer (DFGM) developed will be deployed at the end of a 60 cm boom and will study the Earth’s magnetic field in low Earth orbit. Finally, a radiation dosimeter will measure variation in radiation levels thus giving insight into average electron and proton flux during the mission. Include the Athena on-board computer. This on-board computer for cube satellites is a fully open source system designed and built by senior undergraduate students at the University of Alberta. It will be tested and qualified on the Ex-Alta 1 mission.