CubeSat technology has gone a very long way since its inception in 1999. Developed as an affordable educational project to develop, test, as well as deploy space tech, modern CubeSats have long outlived their originally modest goals. Further advances in CubeSat cameras as in https://dragonflyaerospace.com/products/, designs, and systems followed, and today, both NASA and ESA use the technology in their scientific research missions.
Today, the number of scientific satellites remains rather modest compared to other space tech, but CubeSats are gradually increasing this share, acting as the primary tools for advancing space science. So, what are CubeSats used for? More specifically, how do they help shape scientific research? We will explain this and more in the paragraphs below.
What is the size of a CubeSat?
The original CubeSat standard measures 10x10x10 cm per unit (1U) with a possibility of scaling up to 12U as of now. The actual size depends on specific mission requirements, but all CubeSats follow this uniform design, which largely accounts for their affordable cost. First, standard dimensions make it possible to produce standardized component parts, which are usually cheaper than manufacturing each structural part based on custom dimensions.
Second, uniform size makes it possible to launch CubeSats as secondary payloads — they travel along larger satellites but in separate detachment pods that usually have set size restrictions. However, there are more factors, described below, that make CubeSat camera system designs ideal scientific tools.
How are cameras used for scientific research?
CubeSats can carry any scientific equipment that aligns with their size and weight restrictions. However, cameras remain the primary tool for affordable space exploration. Today, CubeSat cameras are massively used for:
● Earth observation: EOS tech mainly monitors climate change and its effects, which involves taking images of the same area over extended periods of time for future analysis. However, climate change is too vast a notion, so in practice, CubeSat cameras stand on guard against deforestation, marine ecosystems, pollution levels, etc.
● Space weather monitoring: more advanced CubeSat cameras can monitor solar flares and cosmic radiation, allowing scientists to study the effects of cosmic weather on our planet, tech systems, and even people — including the population of Earth, as well as astronauts in orbit.
● Planetary exploration: CubeSat camera applications are no longer limited to our immediate space environment. In the last few years, several space exploration CubeSats have provided valuable images of Mars’s surface and atmosphere; in the meantime, new planetary exploration missions involving CubeSat cameras are underway.
● Astronomical research: these missions explore other bodies in our solar system and beyond since modern CubeSat cameras can now provide images of distant stars, galaxies, etc.
Of course, different mission goals call for different CubeSat camera designs. The top solutions include:
● Optical cameras: the most basic type of CubeSat camera that captures images in the visible light spectrum. They work just like cameras we use on Earth but usually have higher resolutions. This type of CubeSat is mainly used for Earth and, less often, for space observation — in missions where the light condition allows optical camera use.
● Multispectral & hyperspectral cameras: this is a more advanced type of CubeSat camera that captures images in the visible light spectrum and beyond. These CubeSats are less dependent on sunlight and can also be used for Earth as well as space observation, even at night or in destinations without direct sun rays.
● Infrared cameras: infrared CubeSat camera technology reacts to heat waves (radiation) and is perfectly suited for night observation or space missions without sunlight. In Earth observation, such CubeSats are used to monitor volcanic activity, wildfires, etc. In space, infrared CubeSat cameras study heat waves emitted by other celestial bodies.
● 3D Imaging and LIDAR: LIDAR, short for Light Detection and Ranging, is used for detailed 3D topography mapping on Earth and other planets. This CubeSat camera technology helps create detailed terrain and landscape maps, including those of Mars.
What are the scientific instruments used in CubeSat?
Besides onboard cameras, CubeSats may be equipped with other scientific tools tailored to each mission goal. The most common examples include:
● Radiometers: typically installed with infrared cameras, radiometers measure heat waves from Earth, the Sun, as well as other celestial bodies.
● Magnetometers: measure magnetic fields, which is a vital part of studying solar and cosmic weather, along with its influence on humans and our tech.
● Spectrometers: these CubeSat sensors can analyze the chemical composition of the atmosphere and water covers on Earth and other planets.
● Particle detectors: aimed at detecting charged particles in space, such as CubeSats measure cosmic rays and solar radiation. They are used for studying and even predicting space weather.
Notable missions & future potential
Impressive as it already is, this is not the limit of CubeSat cameras or their potential. One notable ESA mission, Hera, is about to launch in October 2024. The mission is to investigate the collision impact with an asteroid Didymos — vital knowledge that may potentially help us deviate threatening asteroids from our planet’s trajectory. NASA, too, is actively using CubeSat tech to study Mars (MarCO) and Moon (CAPSTONE), with new technologies in development. So, soon enough, CubeSat cameras should provide us with more information about the Universe and its secrets.
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