Cubesat Technologies for High Spatial Resolution Astrophysics

该项目旨在将澳大利亚和日本研究的立方体卫星和混合立方体卫星/微卫星概念结合起来，制作原型并对最定制的部件进行空间鉴定，使未来能够进行负担得起的发射。高角度分辨率对于研究恒星形成、黑洞和系外行星的过程至关重要。一组小卫星可以大大超过单个望远镜的角分辨率，或者超过大气受限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澳大利亚未来的卫星天体物理干涉仪成为可能，而且与光通信链路和对地观测有关。

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.