Syntony’s Business Partnership with ESA and HEMERIA
The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Syntony, a leader in GNSS technology, to contribute its AQUILA GNSS receiver to SWING (Space Weather Ionosphere Nanosat Generation), ESA’s first space weather nanosatellite mission. The project, led by prime contractor HEMERIA, represents a significant step forward in using nanosatellites to monitor space weather and its impact on Earth-based infrastructure.
SWING will be launched into a Sun-synchronous orbit between 500 and 600 km above the Earth. This orbit enables consistent observation of the ionosphere, a critical layer of the atmosphere that influences navigation and communication systems. ESA’s Space Weather Office highlights the importance of this mission, noting that space weather disruptions can lead to positioning and timing errors in high-precision GNSS services.
Syntony’s role in the mission is central to its success. The AQUILA GNSS receiver, which specializes in radio-occultation techniques, provides precise data on how GNSS signals bend due to variations in the ionosphere and troposphere. This capability aligns with ESA’s goal to build a reliable space weather monitoring infrastructure and produce actionable data for European operators of critical infrastructure.
In addition to the AQUILA receiver, Syntony is delivering specific ground-processing algorithms to handle raw measurements. These algorithms are essential for converting GNSS data into detailed profiles of atmospheric behavior. SWING’s data will be incorporated into space weather models to produce accurate nowcasts and forecasts of the ionosphere’s condition, supporting both operational applications and scientific research.
The partnership with HEMERIA and ESA reinforces Syntony’s reputation for innovation in GNSS technology. For more information on Syntony’s role in similar initiatives, you can read our previous article.
AQUILA’s Technical Contribution to Space Weather Monitoring
The science behind SWING relies heavily on the advanced capabilities of Syntony’s AQUILA GNSS receiver. This payload performs radio-occultation, a technique where GNSS signals are tracked as they rise or set relative to the horizon. These signals bend as they pass through the Earth’s atmosphere due to variations in the ionosphere and troposphere, providing valuable data about atmospheric structures.
AQUILA processes raw GNSS measurements, such as carrier-to-noise ratios and Doppler shifts, into critical atmospheric metrics, including:
- Slant Total Electron Content (STEC): This metric integrates the electron density along a GNSS signal path, providing insights into ionospheric conditions that can affect navigation and communication systems.
- Ionospheric Scintillation Analysis: AQUILA measures rapid fluctuations in signal amplitude and phase caused by small-scale irregularities in the ionosphere, offering vital information for evaluating signal reliability.
SWING’s mission to deliver in-situ measurements of the ionosphere is complemented by ground-processing algorithms developed by Syntony. These algorithms digest AQUILA’s raw data and produce actionable insights, enabling numerical models to forecast ionospheric conditions.
In addition to AQUILA, the nanosatellite will carry a range of other instruments, including a radiation monitor, an X-ray monitor, and a Langmuir probe. Together, these payloads will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the ionosphere and its impact on critical infrastructure.
As a part of ESA’s broader Space Weather Program, SWING will provide essential data for safeguarding Earth-based systems against the risks posed by space weather. It also demonstrates the feasibility of nanosatellites as a cost-effective, scalable solution for space weather monitoring, paving the way for future constellations.