Actively steerable Femtosat constellations0

• NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program, NIAC Studies, Research and Technology Mission Directorate, SCIENCE, Science / Health, Science Mission Directorate, scientists, Space, Space Communications & Navigation Program, Space Launch System (SLS), Space Telescope, space-x-ipo, SpaceX
• July 22, 2026

Miguel RubensteinNorthwestern University, Chicago We propose a mission to use ~10,000 actively steerable femtosats to map the ring composition, atmospheric composition and density, and distribution of Saturn’s magnetic field. Conducting in situ studies of Saturn’s rings with a single flagship mission, such as Cassini, would carry an unacceptably high risk of mission failure due to