LIMAG (LISA-Magnetics)

The LIMAG project addresses the growing need for compact, efficient and high-performance magnetic sensors for space missions. Current widely used solutions are reliable but bulky, energy-intensive and difficult to integrate into small satellite platforms such as CubeSats (based on 10 cm side cubes). LIMAG offers a state-of-the-art alternative using Anisotropic Magnetoresistive (AMR) technology, which reduces size and power consumption without compromising accuracy.

Developed by IEEC’s Gravitational Astronomy group, LIMAG builds on years of experience in magnetic diagnostics for ESA’s LISA Pathfinder mission. LIMAG is designed to meet LISA’s stringent low-noise frequency requirements, achieving unprecedented stability (with a noise level of 10 nT/√Hz at 1 mHz). This performance makes LIMAG revolutionary not only for large-scale missions such as LISA, but also for CubeSat constellations, where magnetometers play a key role in orientation determination and geomagnetic monitoring.

The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a space-qualified product ready for technology transfer. LIMAG is currently at a technological readiness level corresponding to the validation of the components in a laboratory environment (TRL4). The objective is to reach a demonstration in a space-equivalent environment (TRL6) through rigorous testing and validation.

IEEC is actively working in the framework of the project ILIADA (In-Orbit LISA Diagnostics Demonstrator) to include LIMAG as an in-orbit demonstration payload in GENEO-02, the next microsatellite of the NewSpace Strategy of the Government of Catalonia.