DORA (Deployable Optics for Remote sensing Applications) is a partnership between SITAEL, INAF (IAPS and OaPd), Università Parthenope, STEAM SRL and KAD3 SRL, and funded by MUR, to design, build and test a prototype of a deployable optical system for Remote Sensing applications in the VIS and IR spectral ranges. A deployable telescope and straylight shield is interfaced to a focal plane instrument. The telescope, stored in a folded configuration during launch to minimize volume, will be fully deployed in operative configuration once in flight by means of actuators. The range of applications of such optomechanical technologies, in a space environment and onboard small satellites, are potentially very wide extending from Earth Observation satellites to Solar System exploration missions.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We are grateful to the funding agency MUR for supporting DORA Project ARS01_00653, as part of “PON R&I 2014-2020”.

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