CSES (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite) is a scientific space program conducted to investigate the topside ionosphere by instruments using the most advanced techniques and installed on board of CSES satellites. Designed to gather world-wide data of the near-Earth environment, the CSES missions are dedicated to monitoring electromagnetic field and waves, plasma and particles perturbations of the atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere induced by natural sources and anthropocentric emitters, and to study their correlations with the occurrence of seismic events. More in general, they investigate the structure and the dynamic of the topside ionosphere, the coupling mechanisms with the lower and higher plasma layers and the temporal variations of the geomagnetic field, in quiet and disturbed conditions. Data collected by the missions also allow studying solar-terrestrial interactions and phenomena of solar physics, namely Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), solar flares and cosmic ray solar modulation. The data will contribute to provide an observational sharing service for international cooperation and the scientific community.
The first CSES satellite (CSES-01) has been launched on February 2nd, 2018, with an expected lifetime of at least 5 years.
The second CSES satellite (CSES-02) is currently under development and its launch is expected in the second half of 2023.
These missions are performed in the framework of a collaboration program between the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), and developed by the National Institute of Natural Hazards (NINH), the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics and Planetology (INAF-IAPS), together with several Chinese and Italian Universities and research Institutes.
Italy participates to the CSES satellite missions with the LIMADOU project through a collaboration that includes the INFN Divisions of Bologna, Napoli, Roma Tor Vergata, Torino, the INFN Center TIFPA of Trento, the INFN National Laboratories of Frascati, the Universities of Trento, Torino, Roma Tor Vergata, Napoli, L’Aquila, UTIU, IFAC – CNR Firenze and the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).