SPARCS (Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat) is an American ultraviolet space nano-telescope in the CubeSat 6U format (30x20x10 cm at launch, 12 kg) whose objective is to study the near and far ultraviolet radiation of galactic red dwarfs.[1] The mission selected by NASA is developed and managed by Arizona State University with the participation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) which provides the telescope and its detectors.[2][3]
The objective of the SPARCS mission is to study the ultraviolet emissions of around ten red dwarfs in order to model its impact.[4] SPARCS is with ASTERIA one of the first space astronomy missions using the extremely miniaturized CubeSat format. This new category of satellite opens up prospects in the field of long-term observations of astronomical phenomena thanks to their reduced cost.[5]
