Cubesat Technologies for High Spatial Resolution Astrophysics

Space technology, especially on small platforms such as cubesats and microsats, is undergoing a significant current expansion, driven by new technologies that can vastly decrease the cost of ambitious missions. This project will space qualify an ambitious new technology, placing Australia at the forefront of world research in precision satellite constellations for remote sensing. Remote high angular resolution sensing is needed not only for astronomy, but also for ground-based observations in agriculture, mining and defence. The space telescopes we are developing are already being used by the company High Earth Orbit (HEO) Robotics to image other satellites. The core technologies of injecting starlight into fibres is the same as needed for laser communications, where satellite to ground links could transfer precious imaging data from Australian satellites to end users rapidly. In addit