The Solar Neutrino and Astro-Particle PhYsics (SNAPPY) CubeSat Development
Abstract
The SNAPPY CubeSat, which was launched May 3, 2026, will demonstrate and space qualify the nuSol neutrino-detection technology. The nuSol technology detects solar neutrinos using a gallium isotope which decays by emitting two particles spaced apart in time; this allows differentiating neutrino events from cosmic rays. In the NIAC Phase II project review in 2021, concept and science were determined to be feasible; however, two precursor studies were recommended before pursuing a full mission study. These studies were to characterize the true deep-space background for the detector's gallium double-pulse signal and to collect a statistically significant number of double-pulse events demonstrating that fast electronics can reliably select and analyze this signal. To test double-pulse signals in space, a NIAC Phase III funded building a 3U CubeSat carrying a 0.1-kg gallium-aluminum-gadolinium-garnet detector housed within an active veto array and shielding. Because the detector requires deep-space-like conditions, the CubeSat is designed for a polar low-Earth orbit at 450 km or higher altitude, collecting data over the Earth's poles above the Van Allen belts. The detector is highly sensitive, with roughly 7-percent energy resolution, with active veto shielding and passive shielding using a patented tungsten-powder and epoxy mixture that disintegrates upon atmospheric reentry. SNAPPY enables additional science during the extended mission phase of year two operations. These include measurements of solar wind particle density and energy spectra with particle identification of electrons, protons, and alpha particles; detection of very low-energy gamma rays from galactic gamma-ray bursts without directionality.
Versions
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BibTeX
@misc{sutin2026solar,
title = {{The Solar Neutrino and Astro-Particle PhYsics (SNAPPY) CubeSat Development}},
author = {Brian M. Sutin and Edward Bierens and Brian Doty and Atri Dutta and Jonathan Folkerts and Brooks Hartsock and Kyle Messick and Holger Meyer and Daniel Reichart and Nick Solomey and Mark Crystal and Miguel Rodriguez-Otero and Evgeny Kuznetsov and Robert McTaggart and James Cutler and Joel Steinkraus and Jose G. Rivera},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2607.00295},
eprint = {2607.00295},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.00295},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - The Solar Neutrino and Astro-Particle PhYsics (SNAPPY) CubeSat Development
AU - Brian M. Sutin
AU - Edward Bierens
AU - Brian Doty
AU - Atri Dutta
AU - Jonathan Folkerts
AU - Brooks Hartsock
AU - Kyle Messick
AU - Holger Meyer
AU - Daniel Reichart
AU - Nick Solomey
AU - Mark Crystal
AU - Miguel Rodriguez-Otero
AU - Evgeny Kuznetsov
AU - Robert McTaggart
AU - James Cutler
AU - Joel Steinkraus
AU - Jose G. Rivera
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2607.00295
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.00295
AB - The SNAPPY CubeSat, which was launched May 3, 2026, will demonstrate and space qualify the nuSol neutrino-detection technology. The nuSol technology detects solar neutrinos using a gallium isotope which decays by emitting two particles spaced apart in time; this allows differentiating neutrino events from cosmic rays. In the NIAC Phase II project review in 2021, concept and science were determined to be feasible; however, two precursor studies were recommended before pursuing a full mission study. These studies were to characterize the true deep-space background for the detector's gallium double-pulse signal and to collect a statistically significant number of double-pulse events demonstrating that fast electronics can reliably select and analyze this signal. To test double-pulse signals in space, a NIAC Phase III funded building a 3U CubeSat carrying a 0.1-kg gallium-aluminum-gadolinium-garnet detector housed within an active veto array and shielding. Because the detector requires deep-space-like conditions, the CubeSat is designed for a polar low-Earth orbit at 450 km or higher altitude, collecting data over the Earth's poles above the Van Allen belts. The detector is highly sensitive, with roughly 7-percent energy resolution, with active veto shielding and passive shielding using a patented tungsten-powder and epoxy mixture that disintegrates upon atmospheric reentry. SNAPPY enables additional science during the extended mission phase of year two operations. These include measurements of solar wind particle density and energy spectra with particle identification of electrons, protons, and alpha particles; detection of very low-energy gamma rays from galactic gamma-ray bursts without directionality.
ER -