The INNOVATOR CubeSat Mission and the development of its intersatellite link transceiver (ISL‐T)

The INNOVATOR project (INtersatellite liNk fOr graVity and ATmOspheRic science) is part of Italian Space Agency (ASI)’s ALCOR program, and it is dedicated to in-orbit testing of an innovative payload able to perform very accurate radio science observations in the field of gravity science and atmospheric science. The payload includes an InterSatellite Link Transceiver (ISL-T) for TT&C, ranging and range-rate measurements. The mission will place 2 6U CubeSats in the same low Earth orbit, with a relative distance variable depending on the phase of scientific observations. The two CubeSats will be connected via radio by the ISL-T measurements, allowing gravity and high-altitude atmospheric profiling to validate the performance of the ISL-T itself. Relative ranging and range-rate measurements are essential for precision orbit determination and for a very accurate estimation of all the accelerations acting on the CubeSats. Moreover, the stable Doppler link between them enables atmospheric radio occultations, providing measurements of density, temperature, pressure, and information on the Total Electron Content (TEC). All these elements are of fundamental scientific interest, both around the Earth and around other planets. This paper describes the current status of the INNOVATOR project and the outcomes of the Phase A study.