The BRITE Constellation Nanosatellite Mission: Testing, Commissioning, and Operations

Autor(en)

Herbert Pablo, G. N. Whittaker, A. Popowicz, Stefan Mochnacki, Rainer Kuschnig, Werner Wolfgang Weiss

Abstrakt

BRIght Target Explorer (BRITE) Constellation, the first nanosatellite mission applied to astrophysical research, is a collaboration among Austria, Canada and Poland. The fleet of satellites (6 launched; 5 functioning) performs precise optical photometry of the brightest stars in the night sky. A pioneering mission like BRITE—with optics and instruments restricted to small volume, mass and power in several nanosatellites, whose measurements must be coordinated in orbit—poses many unique challenges. We discuss the technical issues, including problems encountered during on-orbit commissioning (especially higher-than-expected sensitivity of the CCDs to particle radiation). We describe in detail how the BRITE team has mitigated these problems, and provide a complete overview of mission operations. This paper serves as a template for how to effectively plan, build and operate future low-cost niche-driven space astronomy missions.

Based on data collected by the BRITE Constellation satellite mission, designed, built, launched, operated and supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the University of Vienna, the Technical University of Graz, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), the Foundation for Polish Science & Technology (FNiTP MNiSW), and National Science Centre (NCN).

Organisation(en)

Institut für Astrophysik

Externe Organisation(en)

University of Toronto, Silesian University of Technology, Université de Montréal

Journal

Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Band

128

Anzahl der Seiten

20

ISSN

0004-6280

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/128/970/125001

Publikationsdatum

12-2016

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

103003 Astronomie, 103004 Astrophysik

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/7194a96b-e7ef-4a18-8a51-f83f35ce027c