arXiv subjects

Albert Lau

Publications and source records attributed to Albert Lau.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The second Little UV Camera (LUVCam2) mission

The second Little UltraViolet Camera (LUVCam2) is a 80mm-diameter dual UV-optical space telescope that will observe the UV flares around low-mass stars, with planned flight as a $\sim$1.4U payload aboard the 3U CubeSat BRNOsat in late 2027. We present the concept of operations, full system architecture, optomechanical, and electrical design for LUVCam2. LUVCam2 is the second technology demonstration for the LUVCam electronics board, with the first LUVCam (LUVCam1) still operating in low-Earth orbit (launched July 2024). The main upgrade of LUVCam2 is the use of the backside-illuminated GSENSE4040BSI CMOS sensor, promising significant improvement to UV quantum efficiency over the frontside-illuminated model used in LUVCam1. Other upgrades to LUVCam2 include the incorporation of the LUVCam on-board computer onto the readout electronics, an integrated 1W heater and thermal control system, and novel operational capability for LUVCam2 to perform on-sensor star-tracking using optical images of background stars.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2026

A report on the First Technology Demonstration mission of the Little UV Camera (LUVCam1)

Here we report on the status of the first on-orbit technology demonstration of the Little UV Camera (LUVCam1). LUVCam1 is a 0.4U payload aboard the 2U cubesat GRBBeta that was launched in July 2024. The primary objective of the mission was to qualify the GSENSE4040 CMOS sensor and its readout electronics in preparation for the Quick UltraVIolet Kilonova Surveyor (QUVIK; Werner et al. \cite{Werner22, Werner24}) satellite. LUVCam will serve as the primary scientific camera for this mission. We report on the performance of the GSENSE4040FSI sensor used on LUVCam1, beginning with its in-lab characterization followed by an assessment of its on-orbit performance using astronomical observations made by LUVCam1. The camera remains operational two years later and has taken pictures of the Moon and stars that we show here. Through LUVCam1, we demonstrated an approach leveraging new-space to qualify the latest COTS CMOS sensors for astronomy missions.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2026

LUVCam: A high-performance, low-cost, UV/optical camera for the future of astronomy in space

Astronomy-grade cameras with robust performance and heritage in the space environment have long been costly, substantially limiting capacity for space-based astronomy and creating a resource barrier to access. Additionally, ultraviolet observations have historically been limited by the low quantum efficiency of most sensors in this wavelength range. The LUVCam program is designed to address both issues by providing a high-performance, low-cost, UV/optical camera system sufficiently capable to support a wide-array of space-based astronomy missions. LUVCam features a large format, low-noise, large pixel, and high quantum efficiency, commercial-off-the-shelf back(front)-side illuminated CMOS sensor, packaged with custom built readout electronics, firmware, and thermomechanical structure to provide both superlative science capability and precision on-sensor guidance at fast cadence to allow for stable high-resolution imaging. LUVCam is ITAR-free and cheap to fabricate, opening up new opportunities for access to space telescopes. Here we introduce LUVCam, describe its performance characteristics, and the rapid implementation of a technology demonstration for flight. LUVCam, coupled with a small aperture custom-built UV telescope, has been on orbit since July 2024 and has achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7. LUVCam is manifested for several more near-term orbital missions, including a second technology demonstration CubeSat for launch in 2026, and will provide both focal plane cameras for QUVIK, a two-channel UV transient astronomy mission.

astro-ph.IM↗