  We present a design for a near-ultraviolet (NUV) imaging instrument which may
be flown on a range of available platforms, including high-altitude balloons,
nanosatellites, or space missions. Although all current UV space missions adopt
a Ritchey-Chretain telescope design, this requires aspheric optics, making the
optical system complex, expensive and challenging for manufacturing and
alignment. An all-spherical configuration is a cost-effective and simple
solution. We have aimed for a small payload which may be launched by different
platforms and we have designed a compact, light-weight payload which will
withstand all launch loads. No other UV payloads have been previously reported
with an all-spherical optical design for imaging in the NUV domain and a weight
below 2 kg. Our main science goal is focussed on bright UV sources not
accessible by the more sensitive large space UV missions.
  Here we discuss various aspects of design and development of the complete
instrument, the structural and finite-element analysis of the system performed
to ensure that the payload withstands launch-load stresses and vibrations. We
expect to fly this telescope -- Lunar Ultraviolet Cosmic Imager (LUCI) -- on a
spacecraft to the Moon as part of the Indian entry into Google X-Prize
competition. Observations from the Moon provide a unique opportunity to observe
the sky from a stable platform far above the Earth's atmosphere. However, we
will explore other opportunities as well, and will fly this telescope on a
high-altitude balloon later this year.
