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6U CubeSat design for Earth observation with 6▪5m GSD, five spectral bands and 14Mbps downlink

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

S. R. Tsitas  and
J. Kingston
S. R. Tsitas
Affiliation:
s.r.tsitas@alumni2008.cranfield.ac.uk
J. Kingston
Affiliation:
j.kingston@cranfield.ac.uk, Cranfield Space Research Centre, Aerospace Engineering Department School of Engineering, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK
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Abstract

The design of a 6U CubeSat including spacecraft systems and imaging payload is described for an Earth observation mission. From a Sun synchronous orbit at an altitude of 600km the design enables imaging with a 6.5m GSD, an optical MTF (on axis) of >59% at half Nyquist and >35% at Nyquist, a 26km swath, 12 bit digitisation and SNR of 120-200:one in five spectral bands; blue, green, red, red edge and near infrared. Data can be downlinked at the rate of 14 Mbps to a 3.7m S band ground station. This design allows an 8kg CubeSat to perform Earth observation missions equivalent to those of current 50-150kg microsatellites, with a corresponding reduction in cost.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 114 , Issue 1161 , November 2010 , pp. 689 - 697
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2010 

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