Work

Adaptation and Mechanical Validation of a COTS Telescope for LEO Hyperspectral Imaging Using an Additively Manufactured Structure

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Small satellites provide cost-effective platforms for environmental monitoring. Open-source commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hyperspectral payloads, such as those launched with HYPSO-1 and -2, have a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 100 m. However, detecting smaller features, such as water quality in lakes, requires a GSD below 10 m and a high signal-to-noise ratio. Terrestrial COTS Schmidt–Cassegrain telescopes lack launch-load stiffness and in-orbit refocus capability. This study presents a deployable modified COTS (MCOTS) Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope that uses the original optical COTS components, a 3D-printed high-performance polymer (HPP) structure, and a dual-lead-screw deployment and focusing mechanism. The telescope has a stowed length of 280 mm and deploys to an additional 110 mm, making integration into a 16U platform with a payload length of 290 mm feasible. The modified structure is evaluated using shock and sine-sweep vibration testing, with collimation and focus verified before and after testing. Collimation remained concentric within measurement uncertainty. Complementary random-vibration finite-element simulations predicted a 3σ von Mises stress of 26.5 MPa, yielding a safety factor of 2.8. The results demonstrate a feasible pathway for adapting COTS telescopes toward space-grade COTS (SCOTS) payloads, bridging the gap between rapid production, cost efficiency, and performance for small Earth observation missions.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app16105038