CubeSpec
CubeSpec is a future astronomy CubeSat mission under development by the European Space Agency (ESA) and KU Leuven. Its objective is to test a low-cost small satellite platform for long-term spectroscopic monitoring of stars from space on the specific case of asteroseismology of massive stars. Similar satellites can be used for many astronomical applications including characterization of exoplanets. CubeSpec is scheduled to launch in mid-2026.
| Mission type | Asteroseismology, technology demonstration |
|---|---|
| Operator |  European Space Agency |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 12U CubeSat |
| Manufacturer |  KU Leuven |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | Q2 2026 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Altitude | 500 km |
CubeSpec is a future astronomy CubeSat mission under development by the European Space Agency (ESA) and KU Leuven.[1][2] Its objective is to test a low-cost small satellite platform for long-term spectroscopic monitoring of stars from space on the specific case of asteroseismology of massive stars. Similar satellites can be used for many astronomical applications including characterization of exoplanets. CubeSpec is scheduled to launch in mid-2026.[3][4]
Technology
[edit]CubeSpec is testing an easily reconfigurable platform with the potential of observing in a broad range of wavelengths (in visible ligh and UV) and resolutions.[5][6][7][8][9] To achieve the extreme pointing accuracy needed for the observations, the satellite is equipped with a High-Precision Pointing Platform (HPPP) which uses a rapidly tilting fine steering mirror to redirect starlight towards the spectrograph.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Sawczynec, Erica (2024-09-23). "High-Resolution Optical Spectroscopy from a CubeSat? It's more likely than you think!". Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ Kulu, Erik. "CubeSpec". Nanosats Database. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ "CubeSpec". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ "CubeSpec". Departement Natuurkunde en Sterrenkunde. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ Bowman, D. M.; Vandenbussche, B.; Sana, H.; Tkachenko, A.; Raskin, G.; Delabie, T.; Vandoren, B.; Royer, P.; Garcia, S.; Reeth, T. Van (2022-02-01). "The CubeSpec space mission - I. Asteroseismology of massive stars from time-series optical spectroscopy: Science requirements and target list prioritisation". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 658: A96. arXiv:2111.09814. Bibcode:2022A&A...658A..96B. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202142375. ISSN 0004-6361.
- ^ Raskin, Gert; Delabie, Tjorven; Munter, Wim De; Sana, Hugues; Vandenbussche, Bart; Vandoren, Bram; Antoci, Victoria; Kjeldsen, Hans; Karoff, Christoffer (2018-06-28), Siegler, Nicholas; Tong, Edward C.; Batalha, Natalie; Fazio, Giovanni G.; Lystrup, Makenzie; MacEwen, Howard A. (eds.), "CUBESPEC: Low-cost space-based astronomical spectroscopy", Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Optical, 10698: 205, arXiv:1805.11848, Bibcode:2018SPIE10698E..5RR, doi:10.1117/12.2314074, ISBN 978-1-5106-1949-4
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link) - ^ "The CubeSpec mission: enabling spectroscopy from a CubeSat platform". Sorbonne Université (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ Vandenbussche, Bart; Raskin, Gert; Royer, Pierre; Bowman, Dominic; Sana, Hugues; Tkachenko, Andrew; Goris, Jan; Schuermans, Job; Vandepitte, Dirk; De Maeyer, Jeroen; Heylen, Filip; De Munter, Wim; Kempenaers, Maarten; Lanting, Jelle; Vandoren, Bram (2022-08-27). "The CubeSpec mission". In Coyle, Laura E.; Perrin, Marshall D.; Matsuura, Shuji (eds.). Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave. SPIE. p. 4. doi:10.1117/12.2628252. ISBN 978-1-5106-5341-2.
- ^ Peri, Leonardo; De Maeyer, Jeroen; De Munter, Wim; Keunen, Mathijs; Vandepitte, Dirk (2025). "Development of a High-Precision Pointing Platform for the CubeSpec Mission". AIAA 2025. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi:10.2514/6.2025-2318. ISBN 978-1-62410-723-8.
- ^ "Pointing in the (b)right direction". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
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Future missions in italics
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