title: A Cubesat Payload for Exoplanet Detection.
abstract: The search for undiscovered planets outside the solar system is a scientific topic that is rapidly spreading into the astrophysical and engineering communities. In this framework, the design of an innovative payload to detect exoplanets from a nano-sized space platform, like a 3U cubesat, is presented. The selected detection method is photometric transit, and the payload aims to detect flux decrements down to ~0.01% with a precision of 12 ppm. The payload design is also aimed at false positive recognition. The solution consists of a four-facets pyramid on the top of the payload, to allow for measurement redundancy and low-resolution spectral dispersion of the star images. The innovative concept is the use of a small and cheap platform for a relevant astronomical mission. The faintest observable target star has V-magnitude equal to 3.38. Despite missions aimed at ultra-precise photometry from microsatellites (e.g., MOST, BRITE), the transit of exoplanets orbiting very bright stars has not yet been surveyed photometrically from space, since any observation from a small/medium sized (30 cm optical aperture) telescope would saturate the detector. This cubesat mission can provide these missing measurements. This work is set up as a demonstrative project to verify the feasibility of the payload concept.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering-Aerospace Division, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy. marcellaiuzzolino@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iuzzolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering-Aerospace Division, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy. domenico.accardo@unina.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Accardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering-Aerospace Division, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy. giancarlo.rufino@unina.it.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rufino
authors.affiliation: INAF-Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125 Florence, Italy. oliva@arcetri.astro.it.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: INAF-Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125 Florence, Italy. atozzi@arcetri.astro.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tozzi
authors.affiliation: INAF-Astrophysical Observatory of Capodimonte, Salita Moiariello, 16, 80131 Naples, Italy. pietro.schipani@oacn.inaf.it.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schipani
keywords: cubesat; exoplanets; false positive; photometric transit; photometry; pyramid