A compact imager design concept for micro/nanosatellites using scanning mirrors

In this work, a compact imager design concept for micro and nano satellites is introduced. Although the performances of these platforms are increasing, the imagers cannot keep up with the platforms due to mass and volume limitations. Hence payloads require novel designs to have better imagers on board of these platforms, in terms of spectral resolution, spatial resolution, signal to noise ratio and field of view. The concept that we present here involves an object-space flat mirror that can be rotated around two orthogonal axes. One of the movements helps scanning the Earth in cross-track direction while the other movement helps increasing the integration time by forward motion compensation. When used in combination with a frame sensor covered with parallel filter strips, the camera can fulfill all of the above mentioned requirements simultaneously with an optimal performance. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the concept, an example design is shown that can fit into a three unit cubesat.