MCA: revolutionizing space weather monitoring with cubesats: direct probes of energy deposition into earth's upper atmosphere

The National Science Foundation Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences awarded the University of Texas at Dallas $439,511 on October 1, 2026, under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to develop a science-driven framework for CubeSat missions monitoring energetic particle precipitation into Earth's upper atmosphere.

The project addresses how space weather—driven by energetic particles from Earth's magnetosphere and solar events—affects satellites, communications, navigation systems, and ground infrastructure by modifying atmospheric chemistry, ionizing the atmosphere, altering ozone variability, and generating secondary radiation at altitudes of tens of kilometers. Recent small-satellite missions have revealed that these precipitation events are more complex and geographically widespread than previously understood, creating a need for systematic global characterization. The award funds research identifying the most important precipitation events, determining measurement requirements, and improving understanding of energy transfer between near-Earth space and the atmosphere to support advances in space weather forecasting, atmospheric science, and small-satellite technology. The project delivers interdisciplinary training in space physics, data science, and aerospace engineering.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029. Work is performed in Richardson, Texas.

Abstract

Space weather can affect satellites, communications, navigation systems, and human activities in space. A major source of these impacts are energetic particles that enter earth?s upper atmosphere, where they modify the atmospheric chemistry and generate secondary radiation. Recent small-satellite missions have shown that these precipitation events are more complex and widespread than previously recognized, highlighting the need for improved global monitoring. This project combines space science and small-satellite engineering to develop a science-driven framework for future cubesat missions to monitor energetic particle precipitation. By identifying the most important precipitation events and determining how they should be measured, the project will improve understanding of the connections between near-earth space and the atmosphere. The results will support advances in space weather forecasting, atmospheric science, and small-satellite technology, while providing interdisciplinary training in space physics, data science, and aerospace engineering. Better space weather forecasting is important for protecting critical infrastructure, communication systems, navigation, and power grids. Understanding how energy from near-earth space enters and modifies earth?s ionosphere and atmosphere is a central challenge in space weather research. Energetic charged particles accelerated in earth?s magnetosphere or produced during solar energetic particle events can penetrate to altitudes of tens of kilometers, where they ionize the atmosphere, alter chemical composition, influence ozone variability, and generate secondary radiation. Recent cubesat missions have demonstrated the importance of these high-energy particles and highlighted the need for systematic, global characterization. This project integrates space weather science with cubesat systems engineering to establish a science-driven framework for next-generation missions. The team will address two coupled questions: (1) what spectral, geomagnetic, and spatial characteristics define the most GEO-effective energetic particle precipitation events, and (2) what instrument capabilities and orbital architectures are required for continuous global monitoring of these events? To answer these questions, the project will analyze observations from the electron losses and fields investigation (elfin), the colorado inner radiation belt experiment (cirbe), and the relativistic electron atmospheric loss (real) cubesat missions and combine them with physics-based simulations of ionospheric response. The resulting quantitative characterization of precipitation impacts will be translated into instrument performance requirements and orbital design parameters for future cubesat missions. By connecting fundamental magnetosphere?ionosphere physics with mission implementation, the project will establish a rigorous pathway from scientific understanding to mission design. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.