Scorpion Spacecraft

Studying the radiation environment in a polar SSO using cosmic radiation detectors developed at the Moscow State University Institute of Nuclear Physics.

The Scorpion small spacecraft, developed by the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics of Lomonosov Moscow State University  and NILAKT DOSAAF, is based on the CubeSat 16U standard.

The primary technological objective of the Scorpion spacecraft is to obtain radiation data using cosmic radiation detectors developed at the Moscow State University Institute of Nuclear Physics in polar sun-synchronous orbits under limited-orientation flight conditions on a small CubeSat platform with a specified onboard electronics configuration.

Purpose:

• comprehensive study of space weather;
• microbiological experiment;
• registration of gamma-ray bursts and transients;
• monitoring of radiation and charged particle fluxes in the outer space.

The combined operation of the optical, gamma, and charged particle detectors is aimed at a comprehensive study of cosmic astrophysical phenomena. Another important objective is to conduct astrobiology research, specifically studying the impact of space factors on biological systems and developing methods for searching for microorganisms on space objects.

Coordinated optical and detector observations of charged particle flows will allow us to study the mechanisms of magnetospheric dynamics and create a prototype system for assessing space weather conditions. 

The experimental equipment located on board is an important stage in the development of satellite experiment technologies at the Moscow State University Scientific Research Institute of Nuclear Physics, the main objective of which is to develop a dynamic model of the near-Earth radiation environment in various orbits.
As part of educational activities with schoolchildren via satellite, employees of the Moscow State University Institute of Nuclear Physics took part in the scientific and technological program "Big Challenges" at the Sirius Educational Center with the project "Position-sensitive radiation detector for small satellites of the CubeSat standard . "

The payload of the Scorpion spacecraft includes:

• The TGS (Tracking Gamma Spectrometer) is designed to study the temporal and spectral properties of gamma-ray bursts of various types in the energy range of 30-3000 keV. It consists of four identical position-sensitive modules based on GAGG:Ce scintillator crystals and SiPM semiconductor photodetectors, as well as several plastic scintillator pixels. 
• SONET (System for Optical Observations of Energetic Transients). The system is designed to study energetic transient phenomena in the Earth's atmosphere. It consists of the main telescope, AURA-T, which forms images of transient events over time, a four-channel spectrometer, and a limb camera for measuring the vertical profile of airglow.
• BIOL (Biological Laboratory). Designed to study the dynamics of the physiological state of microorganisms based on their fluorescence during spaceflight. It consists of a heat-stabilized, insulated container containing sealed capsules containing microorganisms and probing optical sensors based on an emitting LED and a recording photodiode.
• "KODIZ-2" (Combined Radiation Detector). Designed to record beams of electrons, protons, and nuclei from cosmic rays in three mutually perpendicular directions. It consists of three independent semiconductor telescopes that record particle beams in orthogonal directions, and a Cherenkov detector that extends sensitivity to high energies.
• The "EZCh" (Charged Particle Energy Analyzer) is designed to monitor low-energy charged particle fluxes in near-Earth orbits. It consists of a collimator, hemispherical electrodes, and a detector unit based on secondary electron multipliers (SEMs).

• Aist-ST
• ANSAT-1
• Argus-312
• CSTP 3.1
• DCS-1
• Eya-2
• Galapagos-UTE
• Grifon 1
• Grifon 2
• Grifon 3
• Grifon 4
• Khors 5
• Kosar 1.5
• Lobachevsky
• Luca
• MOHA-1
• MorSat-1
• Mule 4T
• NasbSat-1
• NasbSat-2
• Polytech Universe-6
• QMR-KWT_2
• SakhaCube-Cholbon
• SCH-619
• Scorpion
• SITRO-AIS 57
• SITRO-AIS 58
• SITRO-AIS 59
• SITRO-AIS 60
• SITRO-AIS 61
• SITRO-AIS 62
• SITRO-AIS 63
• SITRO-AIS 64
• SITRO-AIS 65
• SITRO-TD-3
• SITRO-TD-4
• SM-3.1
• Vladivostok-2
• VM-3.1
• Zorkiy-2M 3
• Zorkiy-2M 5
• Zorkiy-2M 7
• TriSat-1
• TriSat-2 (RUVDSSat1)
• TriSat-3 (QUbeSat1)
• TriSat-4 (Picosatellite)