Russia has begun developing a compact space observatory that is expected to perform tasks typically carried out by large and expensive satellites. This refers to a 16U mini-satellite – a device measuring only about 25 × 25 × 50 cm. The goal is to enable it to capture images of the Sun and observe solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Until now, images of the solar corona have not been obtained from such small devices.
The project is being implemented by the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI RAS) and the company "Geoscan" with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Its main task is to observe processes on the Sun that are important for predicting space weather.
The difficulty lies in the fact that the radiation of the solar corona is in the ultraviolet and X-ray ranges, and it is impossible to observe it from Earth. Such work requires special optical systems: multilayer coatings, filters, and precise pointing systems. All of this needs to be fitted into a very compact mini-satellite body. Russian scientists aim to solve this problem.
The project also includes an educational component. It is planned to train about 30 specialists in space technologies with the participation of IKI RAS and LETI.
If successful, the development could pave the way for more accessible space missions for solar observation.