Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MAUVE (MAUVE - A UV satellite for space science)
Reporting period: 2022-11-01 to 2024-04-30
M-dwarfs are currently of great interest due to the prevalence of small planets, including rocky ones, within their habitable zone. As the best candidates to host life, rocky planets may be impacted by the behaviour of their host stars, notably when it comes to questions of habitability, a high-interest topic for the astrophysics, planetary and astrobiology communities. The MAUVE project aims to build, for the first time, a ready-to-launch CubeSat in a rapid timescale with the ultimate purpose of observing such stars via ultraviolet spectroscopy.
The state-of-the-art 16U satellite will move from TRL3 to TRL6 within the project and will prove a configuration for delivering excellent science data, while developing the key technologies in the interface with the detector, the thermal design and high-performance pointing accuracy. The concept of a small CubeSat mission performing spectroscopy of bright targets in the UV is in a sweet spot of technology access and performance which, unlikely many other complex astrophysical missions, avoids the need of large mirrors, cryogenic detectors and suppression of thermal emitted stray-light. The platform subsystems, except the pointing system, have the heritage from the ESA funded RADCUBE mission. Beside the redundant subsystems solutions, the platform of the extremely reliable satellite will include the novel Intelligent Payload Controller (IPC) module, providing an advanced interface unit between the platform and the payload.
The project will demonstrate the capability of the European industry in delivering innovative and ambitious scientific satellites at a radically faster pace and lower costs than traditional science satellites. MAUVE is being developed with the ambition to provide scientific data highly complementary to existing and upcoming exoplanet related space and ground-based observatories, including the James Webb Space Telescope and ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope. The project will furthermore trigger the development of new, low-cost scientific satellites to meet future science needs.
MAUVE will be designed and built by a Consortium of space dedicated SMEs. Scientific work will be led by Blue Skies Space (IT), the innovative CubeSat technology will be delivered by C3S (HU), and the advanced pointing system with the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) will be developed by ISISPACE (NL).
The state-of-the-art 16U satellite will move from TRL3 to TRL6 within the project and will prove a configuration for delivering excellent science data, while developing the key technologies in the interface with the detector, the thermal design and high-performance pointing accuracy. The concept of a small CubeSat mission performing spectroscopy of bright targets in the UV is in a sweet spot of technology access and performance which, unlikely many other complex astrophysical missions, avoids the need of large mirrors, cryogenic detectors and suppression of thermal emitted stray-light. The platform subsystems, except the pointing system, have the heritage from the ESA funded RADCUBE mission. Beside the redundant subsystems solutions, the platform of the extremely reliable satellite will include the novel Intelligent Payload Controller (IPC) module, providing an advanced interface unit between the platform and the payload.
The project will demonstrate the capability of the European industry in delivering innovative and ambitious scientific satellites at a radically faster pace and lower costs than traditional science satellites. MAUVE is being developed with the ambition to provide scientific data highly complementary to existing and upcoming exoplanet related space and ground-based observatories, including the James Webb Space Telescope and ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope. The project will furthermore trigger the development of new, low-cost scientific satellites to meet future science needs.
MAUVE will be designed and built by a Consortium of space dedicated SMEs. Scientific work will be led by Blue Skies Space (IT), the innovative CubeSat technology will be delivered by C3S (HU), and the advanced pointing system with the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) will be developed by ISISPACE (NL).
The MAUVE project aims to build a ready-to-launch 16U CubeSat in a rapid timescale with the ultimate purpose of observing M-dwarfs via ultraviolet spectroscopy. Scientific activities of the project include definition of detailed science requirements and operation modes which serve as baseline for the scientific payload design.
The project develops fine pointing performance of the ADCS subsystem by integrating a gyro and explores the use of payload data for reaqusition to increase overall performance and to account for systematic effects such as thermoelastic distortion. For the latter one, a payload-in-the-loop algorithm is developed and tested in simulation.
The payload development includes design and building of the scientific equipment (i.e. telescope with redundant spectrometers).
The platform hardware is developed to high TRL and includes subsystems owning both heritage from earlier satellite missions and component-level cold redundancy. Considering the demand for extremely high reliability for operation, the EPS subsystem is re-designed within the project. The redundant battery pack and voltage reduction methodology used in the advanced EPS ensure that a single point failure cannot compromise mission requirements in particular, lifetime. The platform allows for the development of the payload interface unit that will form a robust future product for future mission use.
The project activities cover integration of the payload with the platform and also functional testing of the satellite.
The significant efforts dedicated and also, efficient cooperation of the consortium participants predicts to allow both completion of the technical project tasks before the scheduled project end and plan MAUVE launch to Q2 2025.
The project develops fine pointing performance of the ADCS subsystem by integrating a gyro and explores the use of payload data for reaqusition to increase overall performance and to account for systematic effects such as thermoelastic distortion. For the latter one, a payload-in-the-loop algorithm is developed and tested in simulation.
The payload development includes design and building of the scientific equipment (i.e. telescope with redundant spectrometers).
The platform hardware is developed to high TRL and includes subsystems owning both heritage from earlier satellite missions and component-level cold redundancy. Considering the demand for extremely high reliability for operation, the EPS subsystem is re-designed within the project. The redundant battery pack and voltage reduction methodology used in the advanced EPS ensure that a single point failure cannot compromise mission requirements in particular, lifetime. The platform allows for the development of the payload interface unit that will form a robust future product for future mission use.
The project activities cover integration of the payload with the platform and also functional testing of the satellite.
The significant efforts dedicated and also, efficient cooperation of the consortium participants predicts to allow both completion of the technical project tasks before the scheduled project end and plan MAUVE launch to Q2 2025.