COMPASS-2

project aims and payload description


International project “COMPASS-2” (KOMPAS-2) aims at:
  • detection and registration of the anomalous physical phenomena in lithosphere, atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere of the Earth which accompany catastrophic events such as earthquakes, tropical cyclones, tornados etc., as well as strong magnetic storms;
  • conducting global monitoring of the anomalous physical phenomena of different nature;
  • quick analysis of the detected anomalous disturbances in the abovementioned media and extraction of  possible earthquake precursors;
  • observation and registration of the technogenic and natural disaster aftermaths and other important phenomena;
  • data preprocessing and analysis aimed at the study of  the cause and effect links in the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere system;
      The devices on board the  “COMPASS-2” should make it possible to study electromagnetic emission in the broad spectrum range  (up to 15 MHz), obtain plasma distribution structure and measure flows of eneregetic particles. This should help to produce detailed description of the physical phenomena in the ionosphere during buildup and development phases of  different anomalous phenomena.

      PES (or TEC) device - Detector of Total Electron Content (IZMIRAN), will carry out high-precision measurements of  the vertical electron concentration distribution  (from the lower ionosphere to the microsatellite altitude) using trans-ionospheric satellite sounding and GPS system in order to:
  • study global vertical ionospheric profile;
  • diagnose influence on the ionospheric plasma of the antropogenic factors in the ionosphere and effects caused by natural phenomena in the Earth's atmosphere, including those found above seismic regions.
     Dual Frequency Radio Transmitter MAYAK (IZMIRAN)is designed for radio-tomographic measurements of the space-time distribution of the regular, wave and stochastic components of the electron concentration over seismoactive regions using data of  the trans-ionospheric satellite sounding.

     Radio frequency analyser RFA (IZMIRAN, CBK  Poland) is designed to carry out local wave measurements using high frequency spectrometry. RFA registers electric component of the plasma emissions in the 100 KHz - 15,1 MHz frequency band.

     Low frequency wave complex NVK (Russia, Hungary, Ukrain) is designed to register emission bursts in ultra low and very low (ULF and VLF) frequency bands and detect links between seismic activity and electromagnetic field variations in the ionosphere in ULF/VLF frequency bands.

     TATYANA (NIIYaF, MSU) device is designed to study radiation, cosmic rays, ultraviolet emission from the Earth's atmosphere and influence of various components of cosmic radiation (protons, electrons, etc.) on the space environment.

     Data acquisition system SSNI is responsible for providing control of all  the devices on board the spacecraft and transmission of collected data back to Earth.