LOUPE: Observing Earth from the Moon to prepare for detecting life on Earth-like exoplanets

LOUPE, the Lunar Observatory for Unresolved Polarimetry of the Earth, is a small, robust spectro-polarimeter with a mission to observe the Earth as an exoplanet. Detecting Earth-like planets in stellar habitable zones is one of the key challenges of modern exoplanetary science. Characterising such planets and searching for traces of life requires the direct detection of their signals. LOUPE provides unique spectral flux and polarisation data of sunlight reflected by the Earth, the only planet known to harbor life. This data will be used to test numerical codes to predict signals of Earth-like exoplanets, to test algorithms that retrieve planet properties, and to fine-tune the design and observational strategies of future space observatories. From the Moon, LOUPE will continuously see the entire Earth, enabling it to monitor the signal changes due to the planet's daily rotation, weather patterns, and seasons, across all phase angles. Here, we present both the science case and the technology behind LOUPE's instrumental and mission design.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Royal Society Philosophical Transactions A. Corrected typos in v

LOUPE: observing the Earth from the Moon to prepare for detecting life on Earth-like exoplanets

Instrumentatio

A snapshot full-Stokes spectropolarimeter for detecting life on Earth

Instrumentatio

PRIDE: Ground-based VLBI observations for Spaceborne Probes

Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment (PRIDE) will exploit the signal recording and processing technology developed originally for Very Lonag Baseline interferometric (VLBI). The essence of PRIDE is in observing the spacecraft radio signal with a network of Earth-based radio telescopes. The PRIDE technique developed at the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE) together with its partners was used for several experiments with several ESA planetary science missions. It has been chosen by ESA as one of the eleven experiments of the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), the first Large-class mission in the ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 program. The mission is scheduled for launch in 2022.EPSC Abstracts Vol., EPSC2020-647, 2020Astrodynamics & Space MissionsPhysical and Space Geodes

PRIDE: Near-field VLBI observations for Planetary Probes

Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment (PRIDE) is a multi-purpose experimental technique aimed at enhancing the science return of planetary missions. It is based on, the near-field phase-referencing VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) and radial Doppler measurements. It has been developed initially by the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE) for tracking the ESA’s Huygens Probe during its descent in the atmosphere of Titan in 2005 and from that point forward actualized for various planetary science missions. It was selected by ESA as one of the eleven experiments of the ESA’s L-class JUpiter ICy moons Explorer mission (JUICE) mission, planned for launch in 2022

Integration and Miniaturization Challenges in the Design of Micro-Propulsion Systems for Picosatellite Platforms

As a further step in the research towards miniaturization of satellite components and sub-systems, the Department of Space Systems Engineering at the Delft University of Technology has recently embarked in the end-to-end engineering of the Delfi-PQ picosatellite platform, designed according to the PocketQube size standard. This new satellite platform, inspired by the success of previous Delfi satellite projects, is seen as a great opportunity for innovativeness and offers great research challenges. Since a consolidated standard for PocketQubes has not been established yet, a significant amount of design freedom can be harnessed despite the small volume available. The miniaturization process required to integrate the core bus forces the team to think differently about space technology: it is not sufficient to simply down-scaling existing concepts used in larger satellites, and it is often necessary to develop and qualify completely new components and integration methods. The paper is about systems engineering process, technology developments, and verification and validation for the design and development of the micro-propulsion payload for PocketQubes and its integration with the core bus platform

PRIDE: Near-field VLBI observations for Planetary Probes

Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment (PRIDE) is a multi-purpose experimental technique aimed at enhancing the science return of planetary missions. It is based on, the near-field phase-referencing VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) and radial Doppler measurements. It has been developed initially by the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE) for tracking the ESA’s Huygens Probe during its descent in the atmosphere of Titan in 2005 and from that point forward actualized for various planetary science missions. It was selected by ESA as one of the eleven experiments of the ESA’s L-class JUpiter ICy moons Explorer mission (JUICE) mission, planned for launch in 2022.Astrodynamics & Space MissionsPhysical and Space Geodes

Design of a Micro-Propulsion Subsystem for a PocketQube

This papers gives an insight on different sub topics related to a micro-propulsion subsystem for a PocketQube. First, PocketQubes will be introduced and then Delfi-PQ will be presented, providing an overview of the mission for which this micro-propulsion system will be used. Step by step, the paper will explain the subsystem, its challenges, mechanical aspects, electronics aspects and future work. In the long term, these miniaturized micro-propulsion systems might play an important role for micro satellites for attitude control, low-altitude orbital maintenance, formation flying, orbital transfer and several other potential applications

Integration and Miniaturization Challenges in the Design of Micro-Propulsion Systems for Picosatellite Platforms

As a further step in the research towards miniaturization of satellite components and sub-systems, the Department of Space Systems Engineering at the Delft University of Technology has recently embarked in the end-to-end engineering of the Delfi-PQ picosatellite platform, designed according to the PocketQube size standard. This new satellite platform, inspired by the success of previous Delfi satellite projects, is seen as a great opportunity for innovativeness and offers great research challenges. Since a consolidated standard for PocketQubes has not been established yet, a significant amount of design freedom can be harnessed despite the small volume available. The miniaturization process required to integrate the core bus forces the team to think differently about space technology: it is not sufficient to simply down-scaling existing concepts used in larger satellites, and it is often necessary to develop and qualify completely new components and integration methods. The paper is about systems engineering process, technology developments, and verification and validation for the design and development of the micro-propulsion payload for PocketQubes and its integration with the core bus platform.Astrodynamics & Space MissionsSpace Systems Egineerin

LOUPE: observing earth from the moon to prepare for detecting life on earth-like exoplanets

Stars and planetary system