Technical characteristics of Macau Science Satellite-1A

The Macau Science Satellite-1 (MSS-1) is the first space science satellite jointly developed on the Chinese mainland and in Macau. It comprises two satellites, named MSS-1A and MSS-1B, and holds considerable importance in China’s space exploration endeavors. Among these, MSS-1A is the world’s first...

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Main Authors: Yan Li, Yong Zhang, TianYu Zhang, ShiGeng Yuan, Wen Su, JingShan Sun, Fei Feng, BingJun Cheng, Yi Jiang, PengFei Liu, GuiHong Xiao, QingMei Fan, ChunYu Yu, Ming Wang, Qi Xiao, ChuNan Miao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Science Press 2025-05-01
Series:Earth and Planetary Physics
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Online Access:http://www.eppcgs.org/article/doi/10.26464/epp2025062?pageType=en
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Summary:The Macau Science Satellite-1 (MSS-1) is the first space science satellite jointly developed on the Chinese mainland and in Macau. It comprises two satellites, named MSS-1A and MSS-1B, and holds considerable importance in China’s space exploration endeavors. Among these, MSS-1A is the world’s first high-precision scientific satellite dedicated to exploring the geomagnetic field and space environment at low latitudes. Equipped with two high-precision vector magnetometers and one scalar magnetometer, which are integrally installed on a highly stable nonmagnetic optical bench, the MSS-1A enables simultaneous high-precision measurements of both the Earth’s vector magnetic field and its scalar components. Its design integrates several state-of-the-art technologies, including arc-second-level thermal stability control, nonmagnetic thermal control for the optical bench, and ultra-high magnetic cleanliness control. These innovations effectively minimize magnetic interference originating from the satellite itself, thereby substantially improving the precision of geomagnetic field measurements and establishing a robust technical foundation for future magnetic survey satellite constellations.
ISSN:2096-3955