MVL-300 (Mikhailo Lomonosov)

MVL-300 [MVL-MSU]

MVL-300 (Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov 300), a.k.a. Mikhailo Lomonosov, is an satellite for simultaneous studies of gamma-bursts by means of optic cameras and gamma-detectors built by the M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. The satellite is named to honour the 300th birthday of Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov.

The satellite is built on an surplus bus from the Kanopus-V and BelKA 2 programs.

The objective of the mission is the observation of ultra-high energy cosmic rays and studies of transient phenomena in the Earth's upper atmosphere.

The main instrument is the TUS detector, which was originally planned to be a independent free flying satellite called TUS. The TUS (Tracking Ultraviolet Set Up) detector will be used for measurements of fluorescence light, radiated by EAS (Extensive Air Showers) of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) in the earth atmosphere as well as for transients’ studies within UV-range.

The TUS segmented Fresnel mirror - concentrator of 6 standard modules is under construction. The size of one module is 58 cm, the mirror thickness in transportation mode is of about 15 cm. In operation mode the full area of the mirror is 1.4 m and the focal distance of the mirror is 150 cm.

For the first time a mirror-concentrator 2 m² in area with a matrix of UV-detectors in its focus is launched to the orbit. This "camera" provides an opportunity for separation and observation of the evolution of UV-bursts with by a factor of 10⁴ lower brightness than it's carried currently by means of video-cameras (with up 2 cm² inlet area).

There are also three identic gamma-detectors in the energy range 0.02-5.0 MeV onboard satellite with 90° between axes.