The SkyHopper Space Telescope CubeSat

The SkyHopper Space Telescope is an Australian-led international 12U CubeSat mission funded for detailed definition which aims at establishing a breakthrough in low-cost astronomical infrared observations from space. SkyHopper, expected to launch by late 2022, will carry an actively cooled four-channel camera covering the spectral range from 0.8 to 1.7 micron simultaneously, and be capable of autonomously pointing to new targets within two minutes. The combination of timeliness on target and low-noise infrared image quality from space will offer a facility unique in the world for multiple areas of astronomy, from discovery of potentially habitable Earth-size planets around nearby cool stars to rapid follow-up of astrophysical transients such as afterglows of Gamma Ray Burst explosions originating from the edge of the observable Universe. SkyHopper will be launched in a Sun-synchronous low-Earth orbit with an initial two-year long primary science mission. Here, we will provide an overview of the science case and of the spacecraft design focusing in particular on the thermal management of the telescope and camera and on solutions for low-latency, near 24/7 communications.