- The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) unveils the winners of MagQuest Phase 4a, focusing on innovative geomagnetic data collection methods.
- Successful teams, awarded millions, will proceed to design and launch satellites equipped with their magnetometers to gather data on Earth’s magnetic field.
October 2, 2023, SPRINGFIELD, Va., The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has declared the outcomes of the Demonstration Phase (Phase 4a) of MagQuest, a challenge aimed at pioneering data collection techniques for the World Magnetic Model.
Hosted on NASA’s HeroX platform, all three participating teams in Phase 4a have effectively built and trialed their magnetometers at NASA’s esteemed Goddard Space Flight Center. Having been granted millions in funding, these teams are now set to design, construct, and launch satellites to deploy their magnetometers in orbit and gather data on the Earth’s magnetic field. The overarching objective is for the government to procure magnetic field data from one or more of these teams.
Mike Paniccia, NGA’s program manager for the World Magnetic Model, expressed, “We are thrilled to celebrate the success of the MagQuest Teams, whose remarkable solutions have showcased the potential of these innovative magnetometers. MagQuest has been a journey of innovation, collaboration, and boundary-pushing, and we are excited to see how these solutions shape the future of geomagnetic data collection.”
The triumphant teams and their magnetometer solutions are as follows:
- Iota Technology, collaborating with seasoned teams from Twin Leaf, Oxford Space Systems, and AAC Clyde Space. Their collective expertise in sensor technology, deployable structures, and mission design culminated in the SIGMA solution – a 3U CubeSat equipped with an innovative deployable boom and a 3D magnetometer array.
- University of Colorado Boulder presented their COSMO solution, which capitalizes on recent advancements in CubeSat and magnetometer technology. The team comprises experts and faculty from various departments, including Aerospace Engineering Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Field Line Inc., and the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.
SB Quantum’s magnetometer relies on a diamond, which holds up well in the harsh conditions of space. - Spire Global and SBQuantum established a partnership, blending SBQuantum’s unique diamond-based quantum magnetometer technology with Spire’s proficiency in satellites, ground stations, and data processing, resulting in a distinct solution.
MagQuest is propelling innovation in geomagnetic data collection to support the World Magnetic Model (WMM). The WMM is pivotal for navigation accuracy, adjusting for magnetic force variances based on a user’s location. This model is indispensable for numerous systems, from mobile navigation apps to critical military and commercial applications globally. The present WMM is dependent on data from an older satellite system, and MagQuest’s showcased technologies aim to supersede this antiquated system.
Kal K. Sahota, CEO of HeroX, commented, “MagQuest’s pursuit of cutting-edge technologies to capture Earth’s magnetic field data showcases the power of global collaboration available through crowdsourcing. We are excited for the progress these innovators will make as they vie to design, build, and launch their satellites to take their magnetometers into orbit.”
For more details on the award, interested parties can visit www.herox.com/MagQuest.
