STATE-OF-THE-ART SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION DEVELOPED FOR A MICROSATELLITE ON A SCIENTIFIC MISSION TO STUDY PLANET EARTH

An outline design for a relatively inexpensive 50 kg microsatellite (E ISAT-1), to be launched into a near-polar Sun-synchronous 550 km orbit , is presented. A strawman payload for the spacecraft, based on an exi sting heritage of successfully flown space instruments with the capabi lity to make important measurements of the Earth's energetic particle environment; studies of the cold terrestrial ionospheric plasma and re mote sensing of terrestrial features sensitive to global change is des cribed. These devices represent part of a mature genre of lightweight space instruments which can contribute significantly to the implementa tion of first class scientific programs on micro- or small satellites so as to both complement and fill thematic gaps in the science program s of the major agencies. Partners are sought to provide financial back ing for individual instruments of the payload in return for mission/da ta participation. An alternative method of participation could be the provision of another instrument, or instruments, with the capability t o carry out a significant scientific research program aboard EISAT-1, which is expected to be launched in 1997.