The future of astronomy with small satellites

TL;DR

Small satellites are rapidly increasing in number and offer cost-effective, stable, and high-precision observational capabilities that complement ground-based and larger space telescopes, opening new scientific opportunities in astronomy.

Contribution

This paper discusses the potential of small satellites to explore new astrophysical parameter spaces, highlighting their advantages and scientific applications across various fields.

Findings

Small satellites enable stable, high-precision photometry.

They provide long-term monitoring and improved coverage.

Potential to explore new astrophysical parameter spaces.

Abstract

The number of small satellites has grown dramatically in the past decade from tens of satellites per year in the mid-2010s to a projection of tens of thousands in orbit by the mid-2020s. This presents both problems and opportunities for observational astronomy. Small satellites offer complementary cost-effective capabilities to both ground-based astronomy and larger space missions. Compared to ground-based astronomy, these advantages are not just in the accessibility of wavelength ranges where the Earth's atmosphere is opaque, but also in stable, high precision photometry, long-term monitoring and improved areal coverage. Astronomy has a long history of new observational parameter spaces leading to major discoveries. Here we discuss the potential for small satellites to explore new parameter spaces in astrophysics, drawing on examples from current and proposed missions, and spanning a wide range of science goals from binary stars, exoplanets and solar system science to the early Universe and fundamental physics.