Development of CubeSat systems in formation flying for the solar science demonstration: The CANYVAL-C mission

Abstract This paper presents the systems of the CANYVAL-C mission—a mission that demonstrates the concept of a virtual space telescope for a solar science mission, which is achieved by using two CubeSats (1U: Timon, 2U: Pumbaa). The aim of the mission is to capture images of the solar corona by performing precise formation flying. Two CubeSat systems were developed for this investigation: a 1U CubeSat and a 2U CubeSat. The 1U CubeSat can take several pictures of the solar corona, whereas the 2U CubeSat blocks the sunlight with its payload, which is called the Occulter. To accomplish the goal of this mission, precise guidance, navigation, and control technologies have been developed and verified through numerical simulations and the hardware-in-the loop simulations. Flight models of the two CubeSats were developed with end-to-end testing and environmental testing to ensure the feasibility of the mission operations under practical limitations. The two CubeSats are scheduled to launch and be in operation in the first half of 2021.