VULCAIN

VULCAIN

The VULCAIN is a mission consisting of two 12U CubeSats aimed at performing a demo of Earth stereoscopic imaging focusing on volcanos and coastal areas (surface temperature change, detect SO2 and ash emissions). The two CubeSats will fly in along-track formation flying with 150km separation @400 km altitude, controlling the orbit using the low-thrust electric propulsion.

Platform: Two 12U CubeSats with 3-axis pointing and low-thrust EP.
Payloads: Thermal Infrared Imager (270-400 K – Leonardo), Visible Imager (context, morphological analysis – Dragonfly Aerospace).
Programme: General Support Technology Programme (GSTP).
Consortia: Politecnico di Milano (prime), Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Leonardo Company, T4innovation, Leaf Space, FlySight (IT).

Mission dscription

VULCAIN is a formation flying mission which will help answer key questions about volcanic phenomena. Composed of two identical satellites flying in an along-track formation at 300 km separation, the VULCAIN spacecraft are each equipped with a visible camera and a multi-spectral thermal infrared imager. They will be able to deliver stereoscopic imaging of the Earth with a particular focus on volcanos and coastal areas. Flying at a low altitude (~400 km), the satellites will rely on electric propulsion to meet the lifetime requirements and maintain the formation. 

The main questions that the mission will answer are fourfold:

1. How can a volcanic event be predicted through the detection of thermal transient phenomena?
2. How to get more accurate analysis of gas composition and discrimination in proximal area?
3. How can better thermal models be produced, to predict lava flows extent and cooling?
4. How to get a discrimination and characterization of erupted products?

In addition, VULCAIN will also provide significant contribution to the following fields:

• Modelling Evapotranspiration by providing ground temperature estimations
• Urban characterization and climatology, providing more information to determine magnitude, spatial structure and dynamic, of Urban Heat Island effects
• Coastal and Inland water by bringing elements of answer to these two main questions:
  1. Can heat discharge in coastal water be detected and characterised?
  2. Can Inland waterbodies be detected and characterised?

The main new payload development of the VULCAIN mission is a multi-spectral thermal infrared imager, capable of supporting the mission scientific objectives: 

1. Increase of IR observations on Volcanoes to detect surface temperature changes related to volcano activity.
2. Measure SO2 emissions from degassing plumes from active volcanoes.
3. Measure surface temperature in the range 300-400K (TIR channels).
4. Combine VIS-TIR data to enhance the observation on volcanic areas by adding morphological analysis (includes 3D images).

 

The main technological outcome of the mission will be: 

1. Precise absolute/relative navigation with different techniques (GNSS and laser ranging from ground, as well as RF relative range using ISL). 
2. Ground-based relative station keeping of distributed system high-drag environment to enhance the scientific outcome by using stereographic acquisitions 
3. Operate successfully at 400 km for 2 years maintaining the orbit altitude by using a robust Electric Propulsion system 

Mission status

Launch: SSO 400 km - 500 km, 12:00 or 22:30 LTAN, Q2 2027.
Status: PRR completed in Nov. 2023, PDR planned in Nov. 2024, Phase C/D/E/F KO in Q1 2025 subject to IPC approval & funding.