Concept of small mission for space weather investigations of magnetosphere–ionosphere–thermosphere coupling

Abstract

This paper presents the conceptual design and feasibility analysis of the SAWA mission, a Polish small satellite initiative aimed at enhancing space weather monitoring capabilities. The mission focuses on investigating magnetosphere–ionosphere–thermosphere (MIT) coupling through in-situ and remote sensing measurements. SAWA is aligned with the European Space Agency’s SSA and S2P programmes and contributes to the Distributed Space Weather Sensor System (D3S). The payload includes instruments for measuring geomagnetic field, plasma waves, and thermospheric neutral and atomic oxygen densities. The study outlines the scientific background, technical trade-offs, mission architecture, and operational relevance of the proposed measurements, highlighting their importance for improving space weather forecasting and infrastructure resilience.