CeREs, A Compact Radiation Belt Explorer to study charged particle dynamics in geospace

Abstract:

The CeREs 3U CubeSat, set to be launched in mid-2016, will study the physics of the 
acceleration and loss of radiation belt electrons, particularly loss due to electron 
microbursts. CeRES will also observe solar electrons and protons entering the magnetosphere 
via the open field-line polar caps. CeREs is expected to be in a low earth high inclination 
orbit and carries onboard the Miniaturized Electron pRoton Telescope (MERiT). The MERiT 
instrument measures electrons and protons ranging in energy from 5 keV to >10 MeV with 
high time resolution of ~5ms in multiple differential energy channels. MERiT is particle 
telescope using a stack of solid-state detectors and space-facing avalanche photo diodes.
We will describe the CeRES spacecraft, science goals and the MERiT instrument.