Abstract The MOST (Microvariability and Oscillations of STars) astronomy mission has been chosen by the Canadian Space Agency’s Small Payloads Program to be Canada’s first space science microsatellite. It is currently planned for launch in early 2002 to conduct long-duration stellar photometry observations in space. A major science goal is to set a lower limit on the age of several nearby “metal-poor sub-dwarf” stars, which may in turn allow a lower limit to be set on the age of the Universe. To make these measurements, MOST will incorporate a small (15 cm aperture), high-photometricprecision optical telescope developed by the University of British Columbia. A direct benefit of meeting the formidable challenges of the MOST mission is the creation of a versatile spacecraft bus that can be used for a multitude of science and technology missions that could not be performed previously using a spacecraft of similar size and cost. Moreover, the expertise now exists for collaboration with the European community on low-cost space technology projects.
Canada’s First Microsatellite — An Enabling Low-Cost Technology for Future Space Science and Technology Missions
2002-01-01
9 pages
Aufsatz/Kapitel (Buch)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002
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