Extended Mission Technology Demonstrations Using the ASTERIA Spacecraft Lorraine Fesq, Patricia Beauchamp, Amanda Donner, Mary Knapp Rob Bocchino, Brian Kennedy, Swati Mohan, David MIT Haystack Observatory Sternberg, Matthew W. Smith, Martina Troesch 99 Millstone Rd. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Westford, MA 01886 Technology (607) 425-9617 4800 Oak Grove Dr.
[email protected] Pasadena, CA 91109 (818) 393-7224, 354-0529, 393-8636, 354-8175, 354- 6327, 354-5305, 354-6685 354-1319, 354-8088 {Lorraine.M.Fesq, Patricia.M.Beauchamp, Amanda.Neufeld, Robert.L.Bocchino, Brian.M.Kennedy, Swati.Mohan, David.C.Sternberg, Matthew.W.Smith, Martina.I.Troesch}@jpl.nasa.gov Abstract— ASTERIA (Arcsecond Space Telescope Enabling be our closest exoplanetary neighbor orbiting a Sun- Research In Astrophysics) is a CubeSat space telescope like star. currently operating in low-Earth orbit. It is expected to remain in orbit at least through October 2019. Developed as a These demonstrations will provide in-flight testing of new technology demonstration mission under the JPL Phaeton autonomy technologies, maximize the scientific potential of this Program for training early-career engineers, ASTERIA has operational spacecraft, and provide additional characterization achieved sub-arcsecond pointing stability and milliKelvin of hardware for future small satellite missions using similar thermal stability over 20-minute observations. These subsystems. capabilities—unprecedented in a CubeSat platform—have enabled photometric precision better than 1000 ppm/min while TABLE OF CONTENTS observing nearby bright stars (V<6). 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................... 1 Following the second extended mission, we are now using the 2. BACKGROUND ......................................................... 2 spacecraft in its third extension as a platform to demonstrate additional capabilities as well as continue science observations.