Hungarian Researchers Join the Preparatory Work for the European Space Agency’s Plasma Observatory Mission

The Plasma Observatory mission will investigate the plasma environment of interplanetary space and the region surrounding Earth - an ever-changing “space weather” system made up of ionized particles - in unprecedented detail. The mission will deploy seven identical satellites flying in formation, enabling measurements that have never before been possible.

The planned investigations will focus on, among other things, the particle-acceleration processes that occur during interactions between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere, the mechanisms of energy transfer in space, and the space-weather phenomena that can pose risks to satellites, communication systems, and even electrical power grids.

As the sole Hungarian participant in the PMO international consortium, the team is responsible for a key element of the mission’s instrument system. The onboard IMCA (Ion and Magnetic/Plasma Characterization Analyzer) will conduct precise measurements of charged particles and magnetic–plasma interactions. Its low-voltage power supply (LVPS) is being jointly developed by HUN-REN FI and BME. This component plays a critical role in ensuring the instrument’s stable and accurate operation, and it is planned to be installed on all seven satellites in the mission.

The project is currently in Phase A, the detailed system design phase, during which the scientific and technical concepts of the mission are refined, risks are assessed, and the instruments’ architecture is finalized. The Hungarian contribution is supported through ESA PRODEX funding. The PMO mission may receive final approval in 2026, with launch planned for the late 2030s.

“From the very beginning of the project, we have enjoyed the full support of both the Hungarian ESA delegation and the institute’s leadership. We are currently working at an intense pace, meeting several times a week with our international partners while pushing hard to meet all requirements. Our goal is to bring the PMO to a level of readiness by the 2026 Mission Selection Review that will allow it to be chosen from among the three competing mission candidates. The preparatory work relies heavily on the engineers at BME, who - under the leadership of József Szabó - are responsible for designing, testing, and building the LVPS system for the PMO satellites,” said Dr. Árpád Kis, Senior Research Fellow at HUN-REN EPSS, Head of the Space Research–Space Technology research unit, and Lead Co-Investigator of the instrument.

Researchers at HUN-REN FI emphasized that participating in the PMO mission’s preparatory work is, in itself, a significant professional acknowledgment, clear evidence that the expertise and experience of Hungarian scientists and engineers are fully competitive in Europe’s highest-level space research projects. In the mission’s preparatory phase, Dr. István Lemperger, Head of the Geomagnetism–Geoelectricity Research Group at HUN-REN FI, plays a key role in examining the mission’s scientific aspects.

According to the researchers, participation in the PMO mission strengthens the international visibility of Hungarian research institutions and universities, advances domestic expertise in space engineering, and increases innovation capacity. In the longer term, it will help enhance the competitiveness of Hungarian space industry actors, foster new collaborations, and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and students.