SNIPE A, B, C, D (Doyosaet 1, 2, 3, 4 / KASI-SAT A, B, C, D)

SNIPE [KASI]

SNIPE (Small scale magNetospheric and Ionospheric Plasma Experiment) or KASI-SAT (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute Satellite) is a south Korean mission for identifying temporal and spatial variation of small scale plasma structures in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. It is a constellation consisting of four 6U CubeSats operating in variable spaced formations from 10 km to 100 km.

Each satellite carries Langmuir Probes measuring ionospheric plasma density and temperature, fluxgate magnetometers to reconstruct geomagnetic field vectors, and high-energy particle detectors diagnosing electron precipitation from the terrestrial radiation belt.

During the mission lifetime of 6 months the SNIPE constellation will gradually change the inter-satellite distance and the flight formation, which is realized by cold gas thrusters onboard. The main target of the SNIPE mission is to resolve small-scale (<200 km) structures of ionospheric plasma and high-energy particles as well as the concomitant perturbations of geomagnetic field. The bus and payload data will be downloaded in the UHF and S-band frequencies. As a secondary and indirect data link to the ground, the SNIPE will also carry Iridium modules.

The SNIPE satellites were originally to be launched in 2020 as a secondary payload on a Russian Soyuz-2-1a Fregat rocket into a polar circular orbit at an altitude of ~500 km. Due to sanctions because of Russia's attack on Ukraine, the satellites were remanifested on the 3rd launch of the Nuri (KSLV-2) rocket in May 2023.