Earth’s magnetic field shields us from charged particles and  cosmic radiation. Measuring the magnetic field from space is vital for  enhancing navigation systems, but it requires placing sensors far from the  satellite. The Magic Wand experiment sought to test a technology for  deploying magnetic sensors from nanosatellites. This is achieved using a  “magic wand” that launches in a folded configuration and unfolds  automatically upon release.    The lightweight Magic Wand device is made from a space-resistant polymer  produced by hot-forming. The experiment was designed to examine and record  the deployment mechanism’s performance in zero gravity and its compatibility  with nanosatellites. The Magic Wand mechanism was developed by Dr. Ronen  Verker and his team at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center’s Space Environment  Department, a national knowledge hub for space environment research.

Read the article