CHIPS microsatellite optical system: lessons learned

Details CHIPS microsatellite optical system: lessons learned CHIPS microsatellite optical system: lessons learned

Aug 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008spie.7071e...2s&link_type=abstract

An Optical Believe It or Not: Key Lessons Learned. Edited by Kahan, Mark A. Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 7071, pp. 707104-

Physics

Scientific paper

The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPS) observatory launched on 12 January 2003, and was the first and only successful GSFC UNEX (NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center University Explorer class) mission. The UNEX program was conceived by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a new class of Explorer mission charged with demonstrating that significant science and/or technology experiments can be performed by small satellites with constrained budgets and a limited schedule. The purpose of the observatory was to examine details of the local bubble thermal pressure, spatial distribution and ionization history. The observatory was also used to observe solar spectra, both scattered from the Lunar surface and via a fortuitous 2nd order scattering path. CHIPS confirmed that spectral features within the 90-260Å band were much dimmer than was predicted by contemporary theories, and operated four years beyond its design lifetime. The observatory was placed in an extended safe-hold mode in April of 2008 for budgetary purposes. The spectrometer consisted of six spectrograph channels which delivered >λ/100 resolution spectra to a single detector. Cost constraints of UNEX led to a design based on a traditional aluminum structure, and an instrument with a large field of view (5° x 26°). All optical and optomechanical systems on the spectrometer performed flawlessly on orbit. We discuss the challenges, difficulties and lessons learned during the design, fabrication and execution stages of the mission.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

CHIPS microsatellite optical system: lessons learned does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with CHIPS microsatellite optical system: lessons learned, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and CHIPS microsatellite optical system: lessons learned will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1063277