Prospects for using drones to test formation-flying CubeSat concepts, and other astronomical applications

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2408.03911
• Publication Date: 2024-08-07
• Authors: John D. Monnier; Prachet Jain; Mayra Gutierrez; Chi Han; Sara Hezi; Shashank Kalluri; Hirsh Kabaria; Brennan Kompas; Vaishnavi Harikumar; J. G. Skifstad; Janani Peri; Emmanuel Hernandez; Ramya Bhaskarapan...; James Cutler
• Keywords: CubeSat; Drone

Drones provide a versatile platform for remote sensing and atmospheric studies. However, strict payload mass limits intense vibrations have proven obstacles to adoption astronomy. We present concept system-level testing of long-baseline CubeSat space interferometer using drones, taking advantage their cm-level xyz station-keeping, 6-dof freedom movement, large operational environment, access guide stars end-to-end optical train control algorithms, comparable power requirements. purchased two different drone platforms (Aurelia X6 Pro, Freefly Alta X) characterization studies vibrations, flight stability, gps positioning precision, more. also describe our progress in sub-system development, including inter-drone laser metrology, realtime gimbal control, LED beacon tracking. Lastly, we explore whether custom-built drone-borne telescopes could be used interferometry bright objects over km-level baselines vibration-isolation small fast delay fringe-tracking.