Improving Nanosatellite Imaging and Atmospheric Sensing with Adaptive Optics
نویسنده
چکیده
Measurements of atmospheric temperature, pressure, water vapor, and composition are important to users in the Earth science, defense, and intelligence communities. Nanosatellites (with mass < 10 kg, such as CubeSats) can support miniaturized instruments for atmospheric sounding and characterization. Nanosatellite constellations can improve spatial and temporal weather sensor coverage of Earth and can produce data consistent with the current state of the art at reduced cost compared with larger satellites. Nanosatellites are also used for on-orbit technology demonstrations due to low cost and higher risk posture. We focus on CubeSats as a host platform for instruments and technology demonstrations for atmospheric occultation experiments and coronagraphic direct imaging of exoplanets.
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