Title: Experimental Validation of an Ultraviolet Imaging Cube Satellite

Authors: Jason L. Grillo, Troy F. Hajjar, Brady E. Hill, Kodi A. Rider, Thomas J. Immel, and Eltahry Elghandour

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/s.19.1549

Abstract: Space based ultraviolet (UV) imaging has produced a number of critical results over the years for geospace science. There is a compelling scientific need for future NASA missions to make space-based observations from multiple vantage points and from one or more orbit planes. This highlights a need for UV imaging instruments that fit into small volumes, including CubeSats ranging from 3U to 12U in size. UC Berkeley (UCB) Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) is developing a proposal to support this need using a constellation of eight 12U CubeSats. The main research objective of this paper is the experimental validation of the instrument’s front optics design. The instrument was evaluated for its image focus and boresight alignment before and after it was subjected to a series of launch environment tests specified by NASA’s General Environmental Verification Standard (GEVS) [1]. Environmental tests were performed at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, which consisted of several vibration tests and a thermal vacuum test. The image quality of the instrument outperformed the specifications defined by the design requirements by an order of magnitude. As such, the front optics assembly of the ultraviolet imaging cube satellite will survive the launch and space environment.

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Conference: SAMPE 2019 - Charlotte, NC

Publication Date: 2019/05/20

SKU: TP19--1549

Pages: 16

Price: FREE