Idea for a mission to establish a telescope in space. Which will allow University of Toronto students to use as a practical astronomy tool.
Link: https://bssl.space/mauve/
The current mission utilizes a 16U SmallSat platform operating as an active space telescope to facilitate a unique hybrid of academic and professional research. At its core, the initiative serves as a decentralized laboratory, providing students/professionals with the rare opportunity to propose and lead original astronomical studies by directly interfacing with orbital hardware. To maintain the project's long-term operational viability, the mission incorporates a commercial component where universities and professional research groups can secure paid access. This premium service allows for high-precision, "point-and-shoot" observations, enabling external institutions to capture specific imagery of astronomical targets to support specialized data collection and advanced scientific inquiry.
Launched on 28 November 2025, the SmallSat operates as an active orbital observatory designed for a planned three-year primary mission.
Specs from the official website:
| Telescope | 13 cm Cassegrain |
|---|---|
| Satellite Mass | 18.6 kg |
| Spectral Range | 200-700 nm (UV) |
| Spectral Resolution | 10.5 nm (R= 20 - 65) |
| Sky Coverage (Declination) | -46.4 to 31.8 deg ICRS coord. (ep= J2000) |
| Orbit | Sun-synchronous LEO 510 km LTDN 10:30 |
| Pointing Solution | High-performance Star Tracker and Gyro |
Supported by the European Union and utilized by the Mauve Science Institute, in collaboration with the following member institutions: