SPARCS

{{Short description|Space telescope}}

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.{{Cite web|title=SPARCS|url=https://sparcs.asu.edu/about|access-date=2021-12-18|website=sparcs.asu.edu}} 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.{{Cite web|title=ASU astronomers to build space telescope to explore nearby stars|url=https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/623588|access-date=2021-12-18|website=EurekAlert!|language=en}}{{cite web |last=Ardila |first=David R. |date=13 March 2023 |title=SPARCS: The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat |url=https://uvex2023.caltech.edu/system/media_files/binaries/30/original/UVEX_Ardila_v2_-_David_Ardila.pdf?1680043896 |access-date=12 September 2023 |work=JPL}}

The objective of the SPARCS mission is to study the ultraviolet emissions of around ten red dwarfs in order to model its impact.{{Cite web|last=University|first=Arizona State|title=Astronomers to build space telescope to explore nearby stars|url=https://phys.org/news/2018-01-astronomers-space-telescope-explore-nearby.html|access-date=2021-12-18|website=phys.org|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Onboard Dynamic Image Exposure Control for the Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS)|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=55401|access-date=2021-12-18|website=www.spaceref.com| date=22 November 2021 }}

SPARCS plans to be ready to launch by Q1 2025.{{Cite web |title=Home page {{!}} SPARCS |url=https://sparcs.asu.edu/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=sparcs.asu.edu}}