@article{Carter:2026:rasti/rzag064,
author = {Carter, JA and Swamy, BN and Lepri, ST and Raines, JM and Eastwood, JP and Samara-Ratna, P and Brown, P and Archer, MO and Baddeley, L and Kanda, B and Blake, O and Boin, N and Chester, E and Clausen, LBN and Dandouras, I and Desai, R and Dingwall, Z and Dunn, W and Forsyth, C and Haaland, S and Jia, C and Koutroumpa, D and Lambert, J and Laundal, KM and Liemohn, M and Mann, A and Maskolenko, A and Milan, SE and Modolo, R and Naso, G and Nicolaou, G and Nitti, S and Oksavik, K and Owen, C and Radulow, A and Richards, S and Sembay, SF and Sibeck, DG and Smith, E and Walsh, BM and Yeoman, T and Abbott, D},
doi = {rasti/rzag064},
journal = {Ras Techniques and Instruments},
title = {Elfen: a mission to measure the heavy ion composition of the Earth’s magnetosphere},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rasti/rzag064},
volume = {5},
year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - Elfen is a CubeSat mission concept designed to investigate the role of heavy ions in the Earth’s magnetosphere, focusing on both dayside and nightside dynamics. While the significance of heavy and molecular ions is well established in astrophysical contexts, their contribution to solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling at Earth remains poorly quantified. On the nightside, the origin and transport mechanisms of ions within the low-latitude plasma sheet are still debated. The mission science questions are based around two overarching questions; What is the heavy ion influence at the dayside magnetosphere? and What is the heavy ion influence on the plasma sheet and on nightside reconnection? Elfen will contribute to this knowledge gap using two primary instruments; a plasma spectrometer for in situ heavy ion composition measurements, and a magnetometer for contextual plasma regime characterization. The payload will be hosted on a cost-effective 16U CubeSat, operating for at least 1 yr. We present the baseline mission architecture developed through a concurrent design facility study and further engineering analysis, designed in conjunction with industrial collaborators and consultants. The proposed orbit, a 12 Earth radii circular trajectory at low inclination with a 59.8-h period, ensures sampling of both upstream and downstream magnetospheric regions, while offering high-science duty cycles and robust ground contact times. Alternative orbital configurations are considered to optimize science return within engineering constraints. Elfen is a timely mission, aligned with growing interest in space weather forecasting and near-Earth space exploration, and it will complement upcoming missions exploring solar-terrestrial interactions.
AU  - Carter,JA
AU  - Swamy,BN
AU  - Lepri,ST
AU  - Raines,JM
AU  - Eastwood,JP
AU  - Samara-Ratna,P
AU  - Brown,P
AU  - Archer,MO
AU  - Baddeley,L
AU  - Kanda,B
AU  - Blake,O
AU  - Boin,N
AU  - Chester,E
AU  - Clausen,LBN
AU  - Dandouras,I
AU  - Desai,R
AU  - Dingwall,Z
AU  - Dunn,W
AU  - Forsyth,C
AU  - Haaland,S
AU  - Jia,C
AU  - Koutroumpa,D
AU  - Lambert,J
AU  - Laundal,KM
AU  - Liemohn,M
AU  - Mann,A
AU  - Maskolenko,A
AU  - Milan,SE
AU  - Modolo,R
AU  - Naso,G
AU  - Nicolaou,G
AU  - Nitti,S
AU  - Oksavik,K
AU  - Owen,C
AU  - Radulow,A
AU  - Richards,S
AU  - Sembay,SF
AU  - Sibeck,DG
AU  - Smith,E
AU  - Walsh,BM
AU  - Yeoman,T
AU  - Abbott,D
DO  - rasti/rzag064
PY  - 2026///
TI  - Elfen: a mission to measure the heavy ion composition of the Earth’s magnetosphere
T2  - Ras Techniques and Instruments
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rasti/rzag064
VL  - 5
ER  - 

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