Compass 2

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Compass 2
Type: Research satellite
Country: RussiaRussia Russia
Operator: ISMIRAN
COSPAR-ID : 2006-019A
Mission dates
Dimensions: 85 kg
Begin: May 26, 2006, 18:50 UTC
Starting place: Barents Sea : 69.5 ° N, 34.2 ° E
Launcher: Schtil 1N
Status: burned up on December 28, 2011
Orbit data
Rotation time : 93.9 min
Orbit inclination : 78.9 °
Apogee height :  620 km
Perigee height :  400 km

Kompas 2 ( Russian Компас 2 , English Compass-2 ) is an international research satellite that was developed and built under Russian leadership. Launched in 2006 from the submerged submarine K-84 Ekaterinburg , it should bring advances in earthquake prediction .

aims

The task of the satellite is to study the physical phenomena that occur in the lithosphere , atmosphere , ionosphere and magnetosphere during earthquakes, tropical cyclones and tornadoes, as well as magnetic storms . Such phenomena have already been registered by other satellites by chance, but have never been explored in detail. Effects that occur before an earthquake are particularly interesting in order to be able to predict them. The main aim is to enable worldwide global monitoring for various phenomena and to allow a quick analysis of any anomalies.

technology

The satellite has a total mass of 85 kg. The instruments account for 20 kg of this. It has the shape of a truncated pyramid with the tip pointing towards the earth. The necessary energy is provided by two fold-out solar panels. Together they provide around 50 watts and deliver up to 27 volts. There is also a battery with a capacity of four ampere hours.

The satellite has five scientific experiments on board. These are controlled by a central system, which also handles communication with the earth and navigation. The satellite is in a 79 ° inclined orbit with an altitude between 400 and 620 km.

Instruments

The Total Electron Content (TEC) detector measures the distribution of electrons between the ionosphere and the orbit of the satellite. Both the global distribution and local irregularities in earthquakes should be measured. The device was designed and built in Russia.

The Dual Frequency Radio Transmitter (MAYAK) also comes from Russia. The device performs radio tomographic measurements over seismologically active areas.

The Radio Frequency Analyzer (RFA) experiment was jointly developed by Russia and Poland. The device carries out local wave measurements using high-frequency spectrometry. One wants to identify possible precursors of earthquakes in the ionosphere and use them for predictions.

The Low Frequency Wave Complex (NVK) is a joint project between Russia, Hungary and the Ukraine . The device measures radiation bursts in low and very low frequency ranges (1 Hz to 20 kHz). In addition, research is being carried out into connections between these eruptions and earthquakes. One wants to be able to use possible previous eruptions for earthquake prediction.

The Radiation and Ultraviolet Detector (TATYANA) , a project of the Institute for Nuclear Physics at the University of Moscow , aims to measure cosmic and ultraviolet radiation from the earth's atmosphere.

Mission history

After the final tests on the satellite were completed in April 2006, the satellite was mounted on the third stage of the Shtil launcher . In mid-May 2006, the rocket was loaded onto the K-84 Yekaterinburg , a Russian submarine of the 667BDRM “Delfin” project (Delta IV class) , which was sailing towards the Barents Sea . There the mission was launched on May 26, 2006 from the submerged submarine.

The first contact with the satellite was made the following day, but communication was completely broken a few days later. A connection to Kompas 2 could only be re-established in November 2006; the first data transmission from the measuring devices took place on November 30, 2006. After several months of data from the satellite, the mission was declared over on July 1, 2007. On December 28, 2011, the satellite finally burned up in the earth's atmosphere.

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