CORVUS — 6U CubeSat Platform with Synthetic Aperture Radar
Description
CORVUS is RoInSpace's 6U CubeSat platform that serves as both an in-orbit technology demonstrator and a commercial Earth observation asset. The spacecraft hosts a miniaturised Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload enabling all-weather, day-and-night imaging of Earth's surface at resolutions relevant for maritime monitoring, infrastructure change detection, flood mapping, and agricultural monitoring. CORVUS also served as the in-orbit validation vehicle for the OrbFIX GNSS receiver, achieving TRL 9 for the navigation payload through on-orbit demonstration. The 6U form factor (30 × 20 × 10 cm, approximately 8 kg) is designed for rideshare deployment from ISIPOD or similar CubeSat dispensers on commercial launch vehicles. The platform features three-axis attitude control via reaction wheels and magnetorquers, UHF/S-band communications, onboard FPGA-based signal processing for SAR data, and a lithium-polymer battery with deployable solar panels providing average power of 20–30 W in orbit. CORVUS demonstrates the viability of small-satellite SAR as a low-cost alternative to conventional large aperture radar satellites, with revisit times compatible with small constellation deployment.
Specifications
| Form factor | 6U CubeSat (30 × 20 × 10 cm) |
|---|---|
| Mass | ~8 kg |
| Payload | Miniaturised Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) |
| Navigation | OrbFIX GNSS receiver (TRL 9, flight demonstrated) |
| ADCS | 3-axis (reaction wheels + magnetorquers) |
| Communications | UHF/S-band |
| Onboard processing | FPGA-based SAR signal processor |
| Power | Deployable solar panels; LiPo battery; 20–30 W average |
| Deployment | ISIPOD-compatible dispensers; rideshare compatible |
| Applications | Maritime monitoring, change detection, flood mapping, agriculture |
