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Los Alamos engineers and scientists design and fly custom CubeSats for agile space missions

ISR-2 is composed of scientists and engineers. The majority have PhDs in Space Physics, Nuclear Physics, or Plasma Physics. They are engaged in pioneering science missions, developing sensors and systems to detect man-made and naturally occurring electromagnetic phenomena. By providing satellite-borne RF detectors to the U.S. government, ISR-2 supports monitoring of the atmosphere and near-Earth space for nuclear detonations.

Focus Areas

Nuclear Nonproliferation and Research

  • space-based nuclear detonation detection
  • space situational awareness
  • airborne remote sensing
  • nuclear proliferation detection
  • atmospheric science, climatology, lightning science, ionospheric physics, planetary science, astrophysics

 Radio-frequency (RF) sensing research and development

  • RF detection technology and methods
  • Radio interferometry techniques for astrophysics and space situational awareness
  • Source, propagation, instrument, systems development, and modeling
  • Field testing

On-orbit RF science and applications

  • U.S. Nuclear Detection System operations: performance assessment, anomaly resolution, support of electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) sensor missions
  • Science: ionospheric propagation and effects, lightning science
  • Designing new generation EMP sensors, beacons, antennas

Electromagnetic measurement and signatures

  • Novel RF and optical sensing and processing techniques
  • Nuclear proliferation detection
  • Signature discovery and definition
  • Field testing