# MinXSS-2 CubeSat mission overview: Improvements from the successful MinXSS-1 mission

## TL;DR

MinXSS-2 is an improved CubeSat mission that enhances data collection, instrument capabilities, and ground communication to study solar X-ray variations over solar cycles and their effects on Earth's atmosphere.

## Contribution

It introduces a more advanced instrument, increased data capture, and improved communication methods building upon the successful MinXSS-1 mission.

## Key findings

- Higher energy resolution and dynamic range of instruments.
- At least six times more data captured daily compared to MinXSS-1.
- Extended mission duration enables new solar cycle science questions.

## Abstract

The second Miniature X-ray Solar Spectrometer (MinXSS-2) CubeSat, which begins its flight in late 2018, builds on the success of MinXSS-1, which flew from 2016-05-16 to 2017-05-06. The science instrument is more advanced -- now capable of greater dynamic range with higher energy resolution. More data will be captured on the ground than was possible with MinXSS-1 thanks to a sun-synchronous, polar orbit and technical improvements to both the spacecraft and the ground network. Additionally, a new open-source beacon decoder for amateur radio operators is available that can automatically forward any captured MinXSS data to the operations and science team. While MinXSS-1 was only able to downlink about 1 MB of data per day corresponding to a data capture rate of about 1%, MinXSS-2 will increase that by at least a factor of 6. This increase of data capture rate in combination with the mission's longer orbital lifetime will be used to address new science questions focused on how coronal soft X-rays vary over solar cycle timescales and what impact those variations have on the earth's upper atmosphere.