NUSES is a space mission promoted by the Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) in collaboration with the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) and Thales Alenia Space Italy (TAS-I), devoted to the exploration of new technologies and observational approaches for space-based cosmic ray studies. The mission consists of two detectors operating onboard the NUSES satellite: TERZINA and ZIRÉ.
TERZINA is a pathfinder for Cherenkov telescope based missions for the study of Extensive Air Showers (EASs) induced by high energy Cosmic Rays and astrophysical Earth skimming neutrinos, with a focal plane made out of SiPMs. The innovative use of SiPMs will be exploited also for the ZIRÉ payload, mainly devoted to flux measurements of electrons, protons and light nuclei with kinetic energies spanning from few up to hundreds of MeVs, but also operating with a novel concept as cosmic MeV gamma ray detector. A further objective of ZIRÉ will be the study of space weather phenomena and possible correlations among seismic activity on ground and low energy electron and proton fluxes due to Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Lithosphere Coupling (MILC). This contribution will present an overview about the scientific goals, the adopted technologies and the status of the ongoing activities for the payload development.