Russian scientists are developing a compact satellite to study the solar corona

In Russia, a compact space observatory capable of imaging the solar corona is being developed for the first time. This project is being implemented by the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI RAN) and the company Geoskan with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. This is reported by Ixbt.com reports .

The 16U format satellite is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and launched into orbit the following year. Its primary task is to monitor solar flares and coronal mass ejections. This data is crucial for forecasting space weather.

The most complex aspect of the project is that solar corona radiation occurs in ultraviolet and X-ray ranges, which cannot be observed from Earth. Specialists must fit special optical systems, filters, and precise pointing devices into a chassis measuring only 25 × 25 × 50 cm.

This initiative also serves educational purposes. With the participation of IKI RAN and LETI, it is planned to train about 30 specialists in the field of space technology. If the project is successful, it will open doors to new, more affordable, and mass-produced space missions for solar observation.