Enabling Cost-Effective High-Resolution Earth Observation with Deployable Space Telescopes

Abstract

This paper shows the roadmap of the development of a deployable space telescope at Delft University of Technology and explores its applications, key innovations and the design of a small demonstrator. Deployable space telescopes allow for smaller stowed dimensions during launch and it is expected that increasing demand for Earth observation at a high temporal resolution enables large constellations for which the reduction in launch cost per telescope will eventually break even with the required investment. The long term development of deployable space telescopes at TU Delft foresees a primary mirror of up to 1.5 m and the measurements in the visual spectrum, the thermal infrared spectrum and specific spectral lines for trace gasses. The near term objective is to develop a small demonstrator performing wide-band monitoring in the thermal infrared spectrum. This demonstrator comprises of a fixed 30 cm primary mirror and a deployed secondary mirror and baffle. The stowed instrument has roughly half the volume of its deployed configuration. Currently, critical technologies are being designed and proto-typed. The M2 is deployed and suspended by three carbon-fiber booms with custom-designed hinges and actuators at its root. Different configurations have been tested on their correct and accurate deployment.