Paper Category: Optical Engineering
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Broadband vibration isolation in a deployable telescopic baffle exploiting post-buckling thrust tube dynamics
Stray light suppression is a primary consideration for high-performance optical instruments, yet the necessary baffle dimensions often conflict with launch volume restrictions. Existing solutions necessitate a trade-off: motorised telescopic mechanisms provide structural rigidity but incur significant mass, complexity and cost penalties. Flexible deployable shrouds, whilst volumetrically efficient, lack the deterministic geometry required for high-precision optical…
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AI-Based Navigation for Lunar Satellites in VLLO
This paper presents the design and preliminary validation of the Lunar Intelligent Navigation via Neural Architecture (LINNA) payload, a technology demonstration integrated into the SelenITA mission—Brazil’s first lunar CubeSat. The experiment is motivated by the future needs for autonomous state estimation in the Very Low Lunar Orbit (VLLO) regime, where Mascon-induced gravitational anomalies challenge traditional…
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Lattice: A Rapid-Transition Ku-Band Metasurface Radar for Sovereign Responsive Space
As Europe and its allies pivot toward space sovereignty and resilient orbital architectures, the demand for high-performance, rapid-delivery Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capabilities has become critical. This paper presents Lattice, a prototype spaceborne radar system designed to provide a low-risk, high-fidelity transition of ground-proven radar technology into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment. Developed by…
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Toward Space Deployment of Polarization Entangled Photon Sources
Quantum entanglement represents a transformative resource for space-based infrastructure, enabling future global quantum communication, quantum computing networks, and distributed quantum sensing with unprecedented capabilities. Entanglement-based protocols such as quantum key distribution (QKD) enable information-theoretically secure links over global distances and represent a key near-term application of space-based quantum technologies. In this paper, we present preliminary…
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Tiny Telescope: Monolithic Diffraction-Limited Imaging
The Tiny Telescope is a compact, fully integrated monolithic telescope, designed to address the stringent volume, mass, and alignment constraints of small satellite missions. By integrating refractive and reflective optical surfaces, internal baffles, and structural features within a single optical element, the Tiny Telescope eliminates the need for complex multi-element assemblies and post-integration alignment. This…