After two and a half year of intensive work and preparations, TOTORO, designed by our students, was launched to the stratosphere. The experiment was part of the international programme REXUS/BEXUS.

–  TOTORO (Test Observations of Transient Objects and Radio) went a long way – from a scientific idea, design concept, technical development to the test campaign and launch – says Aliaksandra Shmyk, who led the whole project.

The device was developed by members of the Student Space Association, operating at the PW Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering. The project was developed within the international programme REXUS/BEXUS of the German Space Agency and Swedish National Space Council cooperating with the European Space Agency. Thanks to the programme, students can complete scientific missions with the use of high altitude balloons. The participants’ task was to design and prepare research equipment, which after numerous tests would be transported by the balloon during a flight in the stratosphere.

The TOTORO flight took place on 21 September 2023 from the Esrange Space Center station, located in the polar circle. The device had two antennas on board: one for electric field, the other for magnetic field. The aim of the experiment was to register low-frequency electromagnetic waves under the ionosphere, which is characteristic for natural emission, such as AKR (Auroral Kilometric Radiation). The phenomenon is caused by the interaction of solar wind and the Earth magnetosphere.

TOTORO before the flight

– Energy of such emission is heavily damped in the ionosphere, so AKR is most typically studied with satellite instruments. We want to check if it will be possible to register the phenomenon from the level of the system at the altitude of 30km in the stratosphere and try to compare the results with data collected by satellites at higher orbits – explains Aliaksandra Shmyk.

After a four-hour flight, over 800 gigabytes of scientific data were collected. Now they are being analysed but the team already has the first results.

– Participation in the REXUS/BEXUS programme allowed our team to gain not only technical experience but also knowledge on completion of such space projects – emphasises Aliaksandra Shmyk. – We have constant support of experts of the above mentioned agency, so we could learn from the best. This was an amazing two and a half year’s adventure – she adds.

TOTORO in full view

The TOTORO team consists of: Aliaksandra Shmyk, Ryszard Zawiła, Karol Bresler, Maurycy Ciarka, Rafal Mystkowski, Jacek Martyniak, Katarzyna Wiater, Tomasz Aleksander Miś.