TEST: A Modular Scientific Nanosatellite

A powerfully instrumented, reliable, low -cost, and 3 -axis stabilized nanosatellite is being developed as part of the Air Force University Nanosatellite -3 Program. The Thunderstorm Effects in Space: Technology (TEST) nanosatellite imple ments a new, highly modular satellite bus structure and common electrical interface that is conducive to satellite modeling, development, testing, and integration flow. TEST is a low -cost ($0.2 M) nanosatellite (30kg) in final development by Taylor Univer sity and the University of Illinois. TEST implements a variety of plasma, energetic particle, and remote sensing instrumentation with the objective of understanding how lightning and thunderstorms influence the upper atmosphere and the near -space environme nt. The TEST modular design and instrumentation challenges portions of satellite systems (such as future DOD DMSP and NASA LWS Geospace Missions), while complementing large multi -probe and remote sensing programs. TEST includes a variety of proven instrume ntation: two 1m Electric Field (EP) probes, a thermal plasma density Langmuir Probe (LP), a 5 to 100 kHz Very Low Frequency (VLF) Receiver, two large geometric factor cooled ( -60 ° C) Solid State Detector (SSD) spectrometers for energetic electrons and ions (10 keV< E