{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,21]],"date-time":"2026-05-21T00:13:30Z","timestamp":1779322410876,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,3,2]],"date-time":"2017-03-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1488412800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The search for undiscovered planets outside the solar system is a scientific topic that is rapidly spreading into the astrophysical and engineering communities. In this framework, the design of an innovative payload to detect exoplanets from a nano-sized space platform, like a 3U cubesat, is presented. The selected detection method is photometric transit, and the payload aims to detect flux decrements down to ~0.01% with a precision of 12 ppm. The payload design is also aimed at false positive recognition. The solution consists of a four-facets pyramid on the top of the payload, to allow for measurement redundancy and low-resolution spectral dispersion of the star images. The innovative concept is the use of a small and cheap platform for a relevant astronomical mission. The faintest observable target star has V-magnitude equal to 3.38. Despite missions aimed at ultra-precise photometry from microsatellites (e.g., MOST, BRITE), the transit of exoplanets orbiting very bright stars has not yet been surveyed photometrically from space, since any observation from a small\/medium sized (30 cm optical aperture) telescope would saturate the detector. This cubesat mission can provide these missing measurements. This work is set up as a demonstrative project to verify the feasibility of the payload concept.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s17030493","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,3,2]],"date-time":"2017-03-02T10:31:17Z","timestamp":1488450677000},"page":"493","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["A Cubesat Payload for Exoplanet Detection"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Marcella","family":"Iuzzolino","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Industrial Engineering\u2014Aerospace Division, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8843-0109","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Domenico","family":"Accardo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Industrial Engineering\u2014Aerospace Division, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6353-5219","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giancarlo","family":"Rufino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Industrial Engineering\u2014Aerospace Division, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ernesto","family":"Oliva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INAF\u2014Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125 Florence, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Andrea","family":"Tozzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INAF\u2014Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125 Florence, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Pietro","family":"Schipani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INAF\u2014Astrophysical Observatory of Capodimonte, Salita Moiariello, 16, 80131 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,3,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Seager, S. (2011). Exoplanets, University of Arizona Press. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Aigrain, S., and Barge, P. (2007, January 7\u201311). The CoRoT Exoplanet Programme: Exploring the Gas-Giant\/Terrestrial Planet Transition. 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