Launched in 2021, the Sunstorm satellite was a joint project of Kuva Space and Isaware, designed to monitor solar X-ray flares with its cutting-edge X-ray Flux Monitor (XFM-CS).
Kuva Space, a Finnish hyperspectral microsatellite and AI-driven insights company, has announced the conclusion of its Sunstorm CubeSat mission. The mission, which began under the European Space Agencys (ESA) General Support Technology Programme (GSTP), ended on September 4, 2024, when the Sunstorm satellite re-entered Earths atmosphere at 10:30 EEST.
Launched in 2021, Sunstorm was a collaborative project between Kuva Space and Isaware. The satellite was equipped with an advanced X-ray Flux Monitor (XFM-CS) to monitor solar X-ray flares. The missions primary objective was to gather high-resolution data to enhance our understanding of solar eruptions and space weather phenomena.
Kuva Space served as the satellite platform provider, integrator and operator for the mission, while Isaware was responsible for developing and manufacturing the X-Ray Flux Monitor and processing the collected X-ray data.
Monitoring solar X-rays is essential for predicting space weather, a task that can only be performed from space. As reliance on electronic systems and satellites increases, Sunstorm has provided accuracy in space weather predictions, marking a significant milestone with its potential for commercial applications.
Throughout its three-year operation, Sunstorm surpassed expectations by delivering the most comprehensive and high-quality X-ray spectral data on solar flares to date. The mission, originally planned for two years, was extended due to the satellites exceptional performance, allowing for additional data collection and further enriching the dataset.
Janne Kuhno, co-founder and principal space engineer at Kuva Space, said: “We are extremely proud of the Sunstorm missions success. The data collected by Sunstorm over the past three years has been invaluable for space weather research and scientific studies of solar eruptions. This mission has set a new benchmark for solar X-ray observations.”
The mission was initially planned for two years but was extended by Kuva Space and Isaware due to the satellites continued performance. This extension allowed for additional data collection, further enriching the already significant dataset. Sunstorm has provided unprecedented insights into solar activity, which will continue to benefit the scientific community for years to come.
In addition to its primary mission, the success of XFM-CS on Sunstorm has paved the way for future missions. A version of the XFM is currently being developed under ESAs Space Safety Programme for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Space Weather NEXT programme. This mission, scheduled for launch in 2029, will place the XFM instrument aboard an unnamed solar observatory at the Lagrange Point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system. This instrument will be based on the technology successfully proven with XFM-CS but includes two detectors of different sensitivities, which will further improve its performance, particularly during extremely low or high levels of solar activity.
For Kuva Space, the mission set the precedent in how CubeSats are transitioning from high-risk proof-of-concept missions to fully operational high-availability monitoring campaigns with usable scientific data. The mission reaffirms the companys capability in launching and operating CubeSats that deliver scientific-grade data.
Juhani Huovelin, Principal Investigator of the XFM-CS, added: “Sunstorms performance and the quality of the data collected have been outstanding. This mission has not only achieved its objectives but has also laid the groundwork for future advancements in space weather monitoring. We look forward to seeing the continued impact of the Sunstorm mission in the years to come.”
Kuva Space successfully launched its Hyperfield-1 satellite in August 2024, marking the initial stage of Kuva Spaces large hyperspectral constellation, which aims to provide daily observation by 2027 and gapless subdaily global monitoring with 100 satellites by 2030. Its second hyperspectral satellite, Hyperfield-1B, will be deployed in Q1 2025 as part of the ESA InCubed programme.
