LARES 2 & SSMS n°4

LARES 2 (Laser Relativity Satellite 2) is a passive satellite with laser mirrors for the study of the Earth's gravitational field and general relativity measurements (Lense-Thirring effect) and for geodetic purposes to improve the measurements on the LAGEOS 1 and 2 and LARES satellites. LARES 2 is an improved version of LARES replacing the earlier LAGEOS 3 project, which was never funded. The main objectives of the LARES 2 experiment are accurate measurements of General Relativity, gravitational and fundamental physics, and accurate determinations in space geodesy and geodynamics. In particular, LARES 2 is aimed to achieve a very accurate test of frame-dragging, an intriguing phenomenon predicted by General Relativity.

- AstroBio (3U) will test a solution for detecting biomolecules, a technology that could help monitor astronauts’ health and search for signs of life during planetary exploration missions. - Greencube (3U) carries an experiment to grow plants in microgravity, along with sensors and an internal camera to monitor the health of these “microgreens”. - Trisat-R (3U) aims to improve space radiation modelling and demonstrate techniques for protecting high-performance electronic components in the harsh radiation environment of the inner Van Allen belt. - MTCube-2 (1U) will expose different types of flash memory to the space radiation environment while monitoring errors and broadcasting messages to the Ham radio community. - Celesta (1U) will study electronic system short-circuits caused by energetic particles and compare the radiation environment in orbit with that produced at CERN’s CHARM radiation chamber. - ALPHA (1U) will explore phenomena related to Earth’s magnetosphere, such as the Northern and Southern Lights, and demonstrate technologies designed to mitigate the effects of radiation.