The CUSP CubeSat mission for space weather multi-physics analysis, design, and testing

arXiv:2607.29264 · astro-ph.IM, astro-ph.SR, physics.space-ph · Submitted 2026-07-31 · Read on arXiv

astro-ph.IM, astro-ph.SR, physics.space-ph

Submitted: 2026-07-31

Updated: 2026-07-31

Comments: 10 pages, 8 figures, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2026 proceeding

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

The gist: The CUbesat Solar Polarimeter (CUSP) mission aims to measure the linear polarization of solar flares in the hard X-ray band by means of a Compton scattering polarimeter.

Terminology

Structural Model — 14× in this paper
Verification — 9× in this paper · explained in 2 episodes
Structural Integrity — 3× in this paper · explained in 3 episodes
Back-End Unit — 2× in this paper
Front-End Unit — 2× in this paper
Robustness — 2× in this paper · explained in 5 episodes
Accuracy — 1× in this paper · explained in 1 episode
Adam — 1× in this paper · explained in 2 episodes
Alignment — 1× in this paper · explained in 1 episode
Cooperation — 1× in this paper · explained in 2 episodes
Fidelity — 1× in this paper · explained in 2 episodes

Abstract

The CUbesat Solar Polarimeter (CUSP) mission aims to measure the linear polarization of solar flares in the hard X-ray band by means of a Compton scattering polarimeter. CUSP is a project in the framework of the Alcor Program of the Italian Space Agency aimed at developing new CubeSat missions. We present the outcomes of the CUSP's Phase B study, which is ended on 2 July 2026. The design solutions adopted for the mission's most critical multi-physics design drivers will be discussed, these solutions have been formulated and applied to demonstrate compliance with system requirements at both the spacecraft and platform levels. Moreover, we will discuss the validation of the Payload model based on the environmental testing campaign (e.g., vibration) carried out on a demonstrator.

Terminology

Abstract

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