CubeSats for improving space safety

The ROARS (Revealing Orbital and Atmospheric Responses to Solar activity) mission concept involves eight CubeSat satellites flying in formation in low Earth orbit. They carry a comprehensive suite of scientific instruments designed to measure changes in the atmosphere, the drivers behind these changes, and how they affect the satellite flight paths. ROARS seeks to revolutionise our current understanding of satellite drag and collision risks. This is needed to address the growing problem of space debris within near-Earth space.

ESA is helping to fund a mission concept study for this idea, proposed by a consortium consisting of the University of Warwick together with Open Cosmos, Northumbria University, the University of Bath, University College London, the University of Stuttgart, the University of Birmingham, and more. ROARS is one of the seven selected ideas of ESA Preparation's open call for innovative new mission concepts enabled by CubeSat swarms. Read more about the selected ideas here.