A sustainable path for space science

Archer, Richard; Tessenyi, Marcell; Tinetti, Giovanna; Tennyson, Jonathan; Faulkes, Martin Charles; Savini, G.; Windred, Philip; Brown, Dan; Edwards, Billy; Stotesbury, Ian; Joshua, Max; Wilcock, Ben

doi:10.1038/s41550-020-1187-z

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Our innovative model leverages heritage space industry products to re-purpose them for scientific application, turning science mission concepts into reality on accelerated timescales. 1 In doing so, BSSL will deliver cost-effective scientific satellites that can be complementary to both flagship ground and space-based observatories, an approach that is in line with recommendations by scientists. 2,3 Twinkle, due to being operations in 2025, is the first of these spacecraft and makes use of this approach to utilise heritage components where possible to deliver the spacecraft.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Twinkle: a small satellite spectroscopy mission for the next phase of exoplanet science

Stotesbury¹,

Edwards²,

Lavigne

et al. 2022

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave

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With a focus on off-the-shelf components, Twinkle is the first in a series of cost competitive small satellites managed and financed by Blue Skies Space Ltd. The satellite is based on a high-heritage Airbus platform that will carry a 0.45 m telescope and a spectrometer which will provide simultaneous wavelength coverage from 0.5-4.5 𝜇m. The spacecraft prime is Airbus Stevenage while the telescope is being developed by Airbus Toulouse and the spectrometer by ABB Canada. Scheduled to begin scientific operations in 2025, Twinkle will sit in a thermally-stable, sun-synchronous, low-Earth orbit. The mission has a designed operation lifetime of at least seven years and, during the first three years of operation, will conduct two large-scale survey programmes: one focused on Solar System objects and the other dedicated to extrasolar targets. Here we present an overview of the architecture of the mission, refinements in the design approach, and some of the key science themes of the extrasolar survey.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Twinkle: a small satellite spectroscopy mission for the next phase of exoplanet science

Stotesbury¹,

Edwards²,

Lavigne

et al. 2022

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Twinkle: programme updates

Stotesbury,

Bradley,

Wilcock

et al. 2024

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2024: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave

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Twinkle is one of the first in a series of innovative science satellites managed and operated by Blue Skies Space Ltd. The satellite design is based on a high-heritage Airbus platform, with a spectrometer designed by ABB Canada. The spacecraft will carry a 0.45 m telescope and a spectrometer that covers wavelengths from 0.5-4.5 𝜇m simultaneously. Placed in a thermally-stable, sun-synchronous, low-Earth orbit, the mission will operate for seven years and conduct large-scale survey programs. The first three years will focus on both Solar System and Extrasolar targets. This paper presents the satellite's updated design, and key science themes developed by the Twinkle surveys' members.

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A sustainable path for space science

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Twinkle: a small satellite spectroscopy mission for the next phase of exoplanet science

Twinkle: a small satellite spectroscopy mission for the next phase of exoplanet science

Twinkle: programme updates

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