Sector: Space Weather

Number of satellites: 1

Form factor: 12U

HENON is a pathfinder mission that will explore the Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO) in the Sun-Earth system for the first time ever, embarking a payload tailored for Space Weather observations and science on a 12U Cubesat. The main purposes of the HENON project are to 1) Make a leap forward in Space Weather forecasting (when the CubeSat is located between the Sun and Earth in the DRO); 2) Enhance prediction of Space Weather Effects; 3) Contribute to the understanding of the fundamental plasma processes and space weather physical mechanisms; 4) Demonstrate near real-time in-situ monitoring of the space environment in deep space for Space Weather forecasting tools and services; 5) Demonstrate the provision of timely near real-time alerts with significantly increased warning times when upstream of the Earth; 6) Operate a spacecraft in the unexplored DRO for the first time; 7) Demonstrate the reliable use of CubeSat technologies in deep space. HENON mission is supported by ASI in the frame of ESA-GSTP.

Figure: Infographics on the Space Weather effects on human life by ESA ESA/Science Office, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Proposing Teams: Argotec (Prime), SpaceDyS, INAF, UNICAL, UNIFI