Constellation of radiation belts survey (CORBES) a COSPAR small satellite constellation survey program for Earth’s radiation belt

Abstract

A COnstellation of Radiation BElt Survey (CORBES) program is proposed by the Sub-Group on Radiation Belt (SGRB) of TGCSS, COSPAR, which is in pursuit of the goal of SGRB, focusing on the implementation of a Small/CubeSats constellation mission for radiation belt exploration. Basing on a general review of the status quo of research on the Earth’s radiation belts dynamics and the unresolved scientific issues, the scientific object and observation requirements of CORBES are proposed. The CORBES program is expected to have a constellation of 10-plus small/ CubeSats to take an ultra-fast survey of the Earth’s radiation belt. The general science goal for CORBES is to investigate two groups of physical processes related to the radiation belts: wave-particle interactions and radial transport. This program is an international multilateral cooperation mission, an open and sharing data policy will be implemented. The data set of observations will be shared within the contributors of the constellation and the broad research community at large, then would be of great use for comprehensively understanding the dynamics of magnetospheric energetic populations and developing more standard models of the Earth’s radiation belts. Furthermore, from the application perspective, the ultra-fast survey of the radiation belt could serve as an important facility for monitoring space weather of the Earth as well.