Cubesat Technologies for High Spatial Resolution Astrophysics

该项目旨在将联合收割机立方体卫星和在澳大利亚和日本研究的混合立方体卫星/微型卫星概念结合起来，对最定制的部件进行原型制作和空间资格鉴定，以便今后能够进行负担得起的发射。高角分辨率对于研究星星形成、黑洞和系外行星的过程至关重要。小型卫星阵列可以大大超过单个望远镜的角分辨率，或大气限制的地面干涉仪的灵敏度。对关键的航天器间计量和光纤注入技术进行空间鉴定不仅将使未来的澳大利亚卫星天体物理干涉仪成为可能，而且还与光通信链路和地球观测有关。

This project aims to combine cubesat and hybrid cubesat/micro-satellite concepts studied in Australia and Japan, prototyping and space-qualifying the most custom components, enabling a future affordable launch. High angular resolution is critical for studying processes of star formation, black holes, and exoplanets. An array of small satellites can greatly exceed the angular resolution of a single telescope, or the sensitivity of atmosphere-limited ground-based interferometers. Space qualifying the key inter-spacecraft metrology and fibre injection technologies will not only enable a future Australian satellite astrophysical interferometer, but is also relevant for optical communications links and earth observations.