Ariane 6 rocket launches Hasselt University technology OSCAR-QUBE+ into space
The Hasselt University student team OSCAR succeeds once again in space. Their technology to measure the magnetic field around the Earth was carried into space on board the ESA Ariane 6 rocket. In this way, the students take a major new step forward in developing navigation technology based on diamonds with quantum properties. “Seeing our technology go into space for the second time is an incredible experience. We are extremely proud,” say Jaroslav Hruby, Yarne Berden and Boo Carmans, members of team OSCAR.
In 2021, the Hasselt University students were allowed to place their magnetometer OSCAR-QUBE on board the International Space Station for 10 months to record the magnetic field around the Earth, so now the student team OSCAR has achieved a new milestone. “Due to the success of our previous space mission, which produced 231 Gb of data from space about the Earth's magnetic field, the European Space Agency ESA once again gave us the opportunity to test our technology in space. And this on board the first flight of the Ariane 6 rocket ever, a moment that global space science is looking forward to. It is really a fantastic opportunity and experience for our team,” says Dr. Jaroslav Hruby, coordinator of the OSCAR team and postdoctoral researcher at imo-imomec.
2,5 hours in space
The Hasselt University students were asked to participate in this space mission by ESA YPSAT (Young Professionals Satellite). This group of young scientists within ESA was very impressed by the achievements of the OSCAR team in recent years. This resulted in a place on board of the Ariane 6 rocket during a short first space mission, which will make 2 full rotations around the Earth after launch. “The rocket will remain in space for approximately 2.5 hours before burning up in the Earth's atmosphere. During that time, our diamond-based quantum magnetometer will carry out measurements of the earth's magnetic field, after which a few days later we will receive all the data at the campus in Diepenbeek to process and conduct research," says Yarne Berden, physicist of team OSCAR.
“It’s a unique opportunity to test whether our technology also works well in the harsh, pure space environment. On the ISS the magnetometer was in a protected environment and now it will be fully exposed to all forces that exist in space. Very interesting.”
Smaller and more precise
The OSCAR-QUBE was the very first diamond-based quantum magnetometer ever performing measurements in space. The device currently on board of the Ariane 6, is called the OSCAR-QUBE+: an improved version of the same technology. “In recent years we have worked hard to make our device even better and more compact. We succeeded, because the OSCAR-QUBE+ is 60% smaller and about 100 grams lighter, and it can perform up to 10 times more accurate measurements than our magnetometer on board the ISS," says Boo Carmans, physicist from team OSCAR. “We are taking further steps forward to show that our unique technology, in which we use diamond as a sensor, can be used in all kinds of navigation technology. Moreover, we also show how you can achieve something exceptional if you work together, as a group of motivated students, that have different scientific backgrounds.”
Diamond-based quantum magnetometers for space-like applications are being developed within the AMADEUS project, which can rely on European funding and is coordinated by Thales Research and Technology (TRT). Find out more in this article.
