In-Space Neutrino Detection

NUSOL MISSION

Measurement of solar neutrinos is important for scientific studies aimed at understanding the interior
of the Sun. While there have been many Earth-based experiments measuring solar neutrinos, one has never been done in space. Around 2015, Dr. Nick Solomey of WSU Physics envisioned flying a small-sized neutrino detector close to the Sun. Since then, there has been an increasing interest within NASA to conduct scientific studies in space using a neutrino detector. Formally referred to as the NuSol, the mission idea is centered around the fact that high solar neutrino flux close to the Sun only makes a small-sized detector necessary for the experiments. Detectors used for Earth-based studies are typically very large, of the order of 10,000 kg, and a detector flying close to the Sun (Parker Solar Probe distances) will allow for two orders of magnitude reduction in the detector size. In addition, a space-based study has additional advantages. For instance, Earth-based detectors lie deep underground and the neutrinos interacting with them have many sources: Sun, cosmic rays, and terrestrial nuclear experiments; hence, any Earth-based study needs to be able to separate the effect of cosmic rays and geoneutrino sources in order to be able to relate the experimental results to processes happening at the Sun. In contrast, a detector approaching the Sun on a spacecraft will see a decreased flux of cosmic rays and geoneutrino sources are absent; hence, the experimental results will be directly correlated to the solar processes. Furthermore, there are unique scientific phenomenon related to the transition of coherence of solar neutrinos that happen near the Sun, and can never be observed by an Earth-based study. To this end, the NuSol mission study, supported by the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, investigated the feasibility of a scientific demonstration mission for in-space solar neutrino detection; it was observed that flying a detector on a probe flying the trajectories similar to that of Parker Solar Probe would be a practical solution that allows for sufficient scientific studies and yet keep costs reasonable owing to reuse of spacecraft bus components that have flight heritage from
Parker Solar Probe mission.

SNAPPY MISSION

Recognizing the fact that a solar neutrino detector has never flown in space, the Phase-III part of
the NIAC project focuses on the development of a CubeSat to validate the operation of a prototype
detector in near-Earth space. It is important to note here that in near-Earth environment, a smallsized
CubeSat-class detector will not be able to detect any solar neutrino. However, the CubeSat
mission provides opportunities to validate the detector with respect to its interaction with cosmic
rays (background). The 3U CubeSat is anticipated to be launched in 2025 into a sun-synchronous low-Earth orbit and will gather scientific data primarily over the poles (both North and South poles).

PUBLICATIONS

2026 Advances in Space Research

Mission analysis for an in-space solar neutrino detection experiment

Authors: K. Messick, A. Dutta, H. Meyer, N. Solomey

Abstract: This paper investigates the use of only magnetorquers for attitude control of a 3U CubeSat with no payload pointing requirements. The magnetorquers provide a cost-effective solution to meet science objectives without compromising detector volume. The control strategy includes a nonlinear sliding mode control law for coarse pointing to a desired attitude quaternion. The commanded attitude quaternion is computed using Sequential Quadratic Programming to meet a dual-objective pointing requirement. Geometric constraints to meet this requirement are derived from the two pointing vectors being aligned with the spacecraft’s orthogonal body axes in the case of the SNAPPY mission. The results include analysis of the control subsystems’ performance in reaching the commanded quaternion when faced with uncertainties including sensor noise and residual magnetic dipole disturbances. In the results, the effect of the orbit’s local time at the ascending node and seasonal variations of the pointing targets are investigated.

2026 Acta Astronautica

Mission analysis for an in-space solar neutrino detection experiment

Authors: K. Messick, A. Dutta, H. Meyer, N. Solomey

Abstract: NuSol is a proposed mission to fly a neutrino detector in proximity of the Sun, in order to conduct unique science experiments that cannot be realized by detectors stationed on the Earth. The paper presents analysis of the NuSol mission in order to understand the anticipated scientific output of the mission, in terms of the expected neutrino count, as well as opportunities for observing coherent-to-decoherent state transition of neutrinos. To facilitate this analysis, we developed a computational framework incorporating patched-conics methodology, gravity assist maneuver modeling using pump and crank angles, and Tisserand plots. Considering scenarios of powered and unpowered gravity assists, numerical simulations are presented to identify trades associated with the realization of the scientific objectives of the mission.

2026 Small Satellite Conference

Authors:

Brian M. Sutin, Skewray Research, LLCFollow
Edward Bierens, Wichita State University
Brian Doty, Wichita State University
Atri Dutta, Wichita State University
Jonathan Folkerts, Wichita State University
Brooks Hartsock, Wichita State University
Kyle Messick, Wichita State University
Holger Meyer, Wichita State University
Daniel Reichart, Wichita State University
Nick Solomey, Wichita State University
Mark Crystal, Marshall Space Flight Center
Miguel Rodriguez-Otero, Marshall Space Flight Center
Evgeny Kuznetsov, Marshall Space Flight Center
Robert McTaggart, South Dakota State University
James Cutler, University of Michigan
Joel Steinkraus, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jose G. Rivera, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Link to paper: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2026/all2026/14/