UK-developed CosmoCube satellite to use Moon's far side for early universe observation

CosmoCube Mission Overview

An international team led by the University of Cambridge is developing CosmoCube, a small satellite designed to explore the universe's early period, known as the cosmic dark ages. This era spans approximately 150 million years before the formation of the first stars. The satellite, funded by the UK Space Agency, is expected to launch within the next five years.

Utilizing the Moon's Shielding Effect

CosmoCube will orbit the far side of the Moon, using it as a natural shield against radio interference from Earth. For about 40 minutes of each two-hour orbit, the satellite will be protected from signals like FM radio, satellites, and telecommunications, which typically obscure faint cosmic signals. This shielding is crucial for detecting the 21-centimeter line, a signal emitted by hydrogen atoms from over 13.5 billion years ago.

Investigating the Early Universe and Dark Matter

The mission's primary goal is to observe the 21-centimeter line, which has not been directly detected before. This signal provides insights into the period between the Big Bang's afterglow and Cosmic Dawn. Over its two-year mission, CosmoCube plans to collect 1000 hours of data to understand how the universe transitioned from a dark, nearly empty state to its current complexity. Additionally, the satellite will investigate the role of dark matter in the early universe, specifically how it contributed to the formation of the first stars and galaxies.

Technical Approach

To study this period, CosmoCube will operate at extremely low frequencies, between 10 and 50 MHz, which are outside the range of ground-based telescopes. The Moon's far side provides the necessary quiet environment for these sensitive measurements, allowing the satellite to listen for the faint signals from the universe's earliest epochs.