SUCHAI 3

SUCHAI 3 [SPEL]

SUCHAI 3 (Satellite of the University of Chile for Aerospace Investigation 3) is a 3U CubeSat developed by the University of Chile to investigate the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere while demonstrating inter-satellite communications. Together with SUCHAI-2, it forms the university's first experimental satellite swarm, designed to improve measurements of dynamic space weather phenomena by observing them simultaneously from multiple spacecraft.

The mission addresses the temporal and spatial limitations of single-satellite observations. By operating in coordination with SUCHAI-2, the satellites can distinguish between changes caused by the movement of plasma structures and their natural evolution. A communication payload enables inter-satellite links, which are also evaluated as a means of probing the ionosphere and magnetosphere.

SUCHAI-3 was originally conceived as a companion satellite to SUCHAI-2, but its capabilities were expanded after the project received funding from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). The grant supported the integration of the inter-satellite communication system and financed the launch of SUCHAI-3. The successful implementation of this technology also led to its inclusion on SUCHAI-2, establishing the foundation for the university's future distributed satellite missions.