Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jun 1977
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1977cosp.meetq....j&link_type=abstract
COSPAR, Plenary Meeting, 20th, Tel Aviv, Israel, June 7-18, 1977, Paper. 4 p.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Balloon-Borne Instruments, Digital Command Systems, Radiation Detectors, Spaceborne Astronomy, X Ray Astronomy, Astronomical Observatories, Balloon Flight, Microprocessors, Omega Navigation System, X Ray Sources
Scientific paper
A prototype version of a microprocessor-controlled X-ray observatory is described which is designed to take full advantage of the extended observation time provided by balloon-flight durations of up to 100 days while maintaining compatability with the associated weight and power restrictions for long-duration payloads. The observatory's light-weight NaI(Tl)-CsI(Na) phoswich detector is optimized for operation in the energy range from 15 to 250 keV, the sensitivity of the detector in 3 sigmas for a 2.5-hr observation, and the detector is mounted in a two-axis altazimuth orientation system controlled by an on-board microcomputer which performs the coordinate transformations and associated processing required to track a celestial object's apparent motion in the balloon's local-horizon coordinate system. Global tracking and navigation information is provided to the orienter by an Omega navigation receiver. Available operating modes include continuous source tracking, alternating source and background observations, and four scanning modes. Some preliminary results are reported for 10 discrete-source observations made during a recent 19-hr balloon flight.
Johnson Neil W.
Kurfess James D.
Saulnier D. M.
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