MIMIC

MIMIC is a student-run multi-institutional collaborative project to design and build a microsatellite to measure the residual magnetic field at Mars. The subsystems are divided among various universities, but the uniqueness of the project allows students to participate on subsystems that are not necessarily based at their institution. This provides students the opportunity to work in fields outside of their major, broadening their areas of expertise and experience.

MIMIC must adhere to constraints set by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. MIMIC is designed to "piggy-back" on the 2011 JPL orbiter. The mass of MIMIC must be no greater than 20kg. Using the magnetometer, MIMIC hopes to improve upon the magnetic field information that was provided by Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) by orbiting Mars in a significantly lower orbit. MIMIC will be investigating how the solar winds affect the magnetic field, how this might provide answers to where there is liquid water on Mars, and if this can be linked to evidence of life. MIMIC will be delivered in 2008 for launch in 2009.

We are starting with four interacting NASA Space Grant Consortia in a pilot program this year 2004 - Arizona (Arizona State University [lead], University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University), Alabama (Auburn University, Tuskegee University, University of Alabama in Huntsville), Colorado (University of Colorado at Boulder), and Montana (Montana State University). Our commitment is to promote gender, cultural, and geographic diversity and involvement, with a goal of meaningfully including any and all other interested Space Grant consortia next year - join subsystems, set up a mission operations site, begin work on data analysis and modeling software, help with Education and Public Outreach mission activity design, perform high-altitude balloon testing, etc.

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Auburn University | University of Colorado | Montana University