CANVAS CubeSat launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base
Spacebound success for the CANVAS CubeSat.Ìý
The small satellite, which was designed, built, and tested by Associate Professor Bob Marshall's laboratory, launched April 7 aboard a Minotaur IV rocketÌýfrom Vandenberg Space Force Base.Ìý
CANVAS stands for Climatology of Anthropogenic and Natural VLF wave Activity in S±è²¹³¦±ð.Ìý
It will map the transmission into space of Very Low Frequency energy generated by lightning strikes and ground-based radio transmitters, which have a significant impact on the near-Earth radiation environment.
The instruments aboard the satellite will map these waves to determine their magnetic field intensity, electric field intensity, power level, and direction of propagation through a region of the ionosphere.
CANVAS is the third small satellite from Marshall's team to launch this year. AEPEX and COSMO were both carried to orbit aboard a SpaceX rocket late last month.