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CosmoCube Mission to Study Pre-Cosmic Dawn Universe
An international team of scientists led by the University of Cambridge unveils the CosmoCube mission to study the pre-Cosmic Dawn universe. The mission plans observations from lunar orbit, using time spent behind the Moon’s far side to reduce radio frequency interference from Earth.
CosmoCube Mission:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Aim | The mission provides for observing the ~150-million-year period following the Big Bang but preceding the formation of the first stars, termed “Cosmic Dawn”. |
| Orbit and operational profile | The satellite operates in lunar orbit, spending approximately 40 minutes behind the Moon’s far side during every 2-hour orbit. |
| Radio interference shielding | The Moon acts as a natural physical shield against radio frequency interference originating from Earth. |
| Target signal | The mission is designed to detect the extremely faint 21-cm hydrogen line emitted by neutral hydrogen atoms during the early universe. |
| Earth-based constraints cited | Low-frequency radio waves from the early universe are blocked by Earth’s ionosphere and drowned out by terrestrial FM radio, telecommunications, and orbital satellites. |
| Observation target | The mission provides for collecting roughly 1,000 hours of pristine radio astronomical data from the quietest radio environment in the inner Solar System. |
| Scientific focus: dark matter | By measuring hydrogen gas behavior before star formation, the mission provides for probing how dark matter’s gravitational influence helps gather hydrogen to trigger the birth of the first stars and galaxies. |
| Spacecraft platform | The mission comprises a compact “SSTL-21” spacecraft platform built by Surrey Space Technology Ltd (SSTL). |
| Payload technology | The spacecraft carries miniature radiometers with RF Systems-on-Chip (RFSoC) technology. |
| Challenge highlighted | The mission highlights urgency of radio astronomy on the lunar far side before increasing space traffic and lunar missions, including NASA’s Artemis program and ISRO’s future lunar plans, create local radio noise. |