[LUM#2] Nanosats, Big Picture
Designed by UM students, the nanosatellites from the University Space Center (CSU) in Montpellier could help better anticipate “Mediterranean episodes,” the frequency of which is expected to increase.
September 29, 2014. The Mediterranean coast is on high alert. For several days now, weather forecasts have been predicting the arrival of a “Mediterranean storm,” a stormy weather pattern typical of the Gulf of Lion region, caused by the collision of an oceanic low-pressure system with warm currents from the Mediterranean. Within a few hours, the equivalent of several months’ worth of rainfall will pour down on the Montpellier region. But exactly when? No one can say for sure.
Weather reports
This is where Robusta 3-A could come into play—a small cube of technology floating in perfect tranquility several hundred kilometers away. While the laws of physics prevent the nanosatellite from carrying the optical instruments used by Météo France’s satellites, it could still be of service in other ways. “We now need to improve forecasting for very localized areas. This requires a dedicated system that Météo France does not have,” explains Laurent Dusseau. Custom-made solutions, on the other hand, are ideal for nanosats.
The project, scheduled to launch in 2018, would be carried out in three phases. First step: GPS signals from “traditional” satellites are collected by mini weather stations deployed at sea aboard cargo ships.“Based on how these signals propagate through the atmosphere, we can estimate the amount of water vapor present above the ship,” explains the CSU director. This data is then transmitted to the nanosatellite, which relays it to a ground station, where it will be used to develop predictive models. By serving as this relay, Robusta 3-A could help create precise maps, enabling more detailed and, above all, up-to-date tracking of the storm.
A tropical Languedoc?
This technological marvel, just a few centimeters across, has another advantage: its price. A few hundred thousand euros: about a hundred times less than a large geostationary satellite. Not surprising for a satellite designed entirely by students: “They manage the projects from start to finish,” explains Frédéric Saigné. “From the DUT to the post-doctorate, each level of study is supervised by the next higher level,” adds the director of the Van Allen Foundation.
A foundation that brings together industry leaders and major space agencies to help student projects reach for the stars. A large-scale consortium capable of addressing the challenges posed by these Mediterranean weather events, which experts predict will intensify, with rainfall potentially reaching up to 1,000 mm in a single day—precipitation levels typically seen in tropical climates.
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