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1.EARTH OBSERVATION WITH SMALL SATELLITESDuring the last years the number of small satellites have been dramatically increased. Since 2001 there is a steady growth of 25% per year. Within these numbers three major trends can be observed:
1.1.Prospects and LimitationsThanks to miniaturisation of electronics and the use of modern COTS technology today’s state of the art micro satellites can compete in many areas with standard large satellites. They can obtain imagery with resolutions up to 2,5m GSD in a comparable amount and quality but with a much lower price. In addition the low cost for small satellites enables constellations which offer very fast revisit times unknown to a single large satellite. This makes them very attractive for many users and is the reason why their numbers have increased that much during the last years. Unfortunately even the smallest microchip can not overcome basic optic principles: to achieve high resolution one needs a large aperture telescope which does not fit the given space of small satellites. With a GSD of 2,5m for a 120kg microsat classical telescope technology reached its limits. For higher resolutions the user faces the following dilemma: 2.DEPLOYABLE TELESCOPESThe problem is part of the solution: a telescope is mainly empty space between the optical elements. This space is needed for observation but useless during launch. The deployment of the telescope in space can save 70% of payload volume and 50% of payload mass compared to classical non deployable telescopes. A satellite based on a deployable telescope has
Since these advantages continue along the value added chain only satellites with deployable optical payloads can serve the end users needs for low cost and high resolution imagery. Currently worldwide 5 teams develop deployable optics. The Dobson Space Telescope research team at TU-Berlin is among this avant-garde. Within the developments for deployable optics two different approaches exist: Whereas NASA [2] and US Airforce [3] rely on a very complex system based on deployable mirrors the DST team at TU-Berlin, the MITAR Team at University of Naples [4] and the PRISM [5] Team at University of Tokyo rely on a system with non deployable mirrors but deployable telescope structures.
2.1.deployable telescopes for small satellitesThe three teams which work on payloads for small satellites have two different approaches:
The renunciation of a in orbit collimation system helps to reduce the system complexity but limits the optical performance of the payload dramatically. None of the competitors of DST focuses on high resolution payloads for micro satellites. Therefore the DST payload will be the only product to suit the needs for 1m GSD in the micro satellite market. 3.DOBSON SPACE TELESCOPEThe Dobson Space Telescope [1] Payload is designed for the next generation of high resolution micro satellites. Table 1 compares the DST payload to the RAL-CAM of SSTL TOPSAT and the OHRIS of Orbview 3. Both payloads are state of the art for today’s micro and mini satellites. Table 1DST payload vs. RalCam and OHRIS
3.1.Optical conceptDST will use a straight forward optical design: two mirror modified cassegrain with a lens based field corrector. This design rather than a complex TMA was chosen for DST in order to keep the deployment and collimation efforts low. The later product DST payload will feature a 50cm f/8 deployable telescope which is the maximum possible aperture for a standard micro satellite. Nevertheless TOPSAT and other microsat missions have shown that secondary payloads can comprise larger volumes than the standard 600x600x800mm defined by Ariane5 ASAP. Depending on the market needs there are even bigger versions of the DST payloads possible. The technology itself is easily scaleable for any main mirror aperture ranging from 30cm to 3,5m. For cost reasons all existing and future lab versions as well as the first space prototype will only have 35cm aperture. This will allow 1,5m GSD. Besides the scaled optical system the DST Demonstrator will be identical to the later DST product. A detailed comparison of those two systems can be found in Figure 4 3.2.Key TechnologiesFor realisation of DST two key technologies are needed: Since 2002 the key technologies for the DST payload have been developed in the labs of TU-Berlin and tested under zero-g conditions during an ESA parabolic flight campaign in 2005. The project is now at the end of the lab phase. The key technologies which have been tested in separated test benches will now be integrated into one combined test bench. 3.2.1.Deployment mechanismIn contrast to the competitors which rely on lightweight spring mechanisms for telescope deployment DST has chosen a much more rigid structure. The DST structure which is based on trusses and hinges is much stiffer and much more precise. Testing of the structure on the parabolic flight campaign in 2005 has shown that the already the current lab prototype fulfils most of the requirements needed for the later space version. An evolved version of this mechanism currently undergoes a frequency analysis. The structure is tested both in deployed and non-deployed configuration. This work is done in cooperation with the institute of mechanics at the TU-Berlin. After completion the finalised deployment mechanics will be integrated in the combined test bench at the end of this year. The deployment technology of DST is patent pending. 3.2.2.Collimation mechanismAn optical telescope is a very precise instruments. Even minor displacements of the optical elements will have dramatic effects on the image quality. Since no deployment mechanism can be as perfect as needed for the telescope. The optical system needs to be fine adjusted after deployment in order to assure maximum image quality. The collimation mechanism which is basically 5 axis micro actuator which is placed behind the secondary mirror is designed to act as the mediator between the possibilities of the deployment mechanisms and the requirements of the optical system. In addition to first in orbit collimation the mechanism can be used to collimate the telescope at any time during the mission. This is a great advantage over classical non deployable telescopes without collimation actuators. 3.3.Satellite Bus requirementsDue to the very high resolution of DST the requirements are very challenging.
Three potential European micro satellite busses have been identified as a potential carrier for DST: Except for ACS Jitter all of these busses are suitable for DST. Since these busses demonstrated jitter performance between 1-2 arcmin/s which is by the factor of 8 worse than required all of them need improvements. DST has chosen the BIRD/TET Bus as preferred platform for DST payload. Nevertheless the later product will be available to any interested customer and bus able to suit the needs of the DST payload 3.4.ScheduleAfter completion of the test with the lab models the development of a first DST space demonstrator is planned. For the development and commercialisation of this demonstrator payload the development team at TU-Berlin prepares a start-up company. According to the schedule the following milestones will be achieved: 3.5.Strategic partnersThe development of the DST payload is based on three major columns:
The DST development is part of the Raumfahrtinitiative Berlin Brandenburg (RIBB). RIBB is the network of the Berlin Space industry. The aim of RIBB is to coordinate, promote and to act as a hub for the Berlin space activities. Figure 6 shows the partners of RIBB. 4.CONCLUSIONWith a GSD of 1m the DST payload will be the most capable micro satellite payload in the medium term. Its key technologies have been demonstrated in the labs of TU-Berlin and on board an ESA parabolic flight campaign. Based on the RIBB network the DT development team currently prepares a start-up company to further develop and commercialize DST technology. 5.5.REFERENCES Dobson Space Telescope Homepage, http://www.dobson-space-telescope.com Google Scholar
James Webb Space Telescope Homepage, http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/ Google Scholar
US Airforce Deployable Telescope homepage, http://www.dod.mil/transformation/articles/2006-01/ta012406a.html Google Scholar
Mitar homepage, http://www.corista.unina.it/asie.html Google Scholar
Prism Homepage, http://www.space.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/prism/main-e.html Google Scholar
, SSTL Homepage, http://www.SSTL.co.uk Google Scholar
Afordable Space Mission Studie mit TET, DLR,
(2005) http://www.dlr.de/os/forschung/projekte/asm Google Scholar
T. Segert, Businessplan Dobson Space Telescope, Google Scholar
RalCam Spec, EO Portal, http://directory.eoportal.org/pres_TopSat.html Google Scholar
OHRIS spec, EO Portal, http://directory.eoportal.org/pres_OrbView3.html Google Scholar
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