Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Jan 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21345113c&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #451.13; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.346
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Stellar Imager (http://hires.gsfc.nasa.gov/si/) is a space-based, UV/Optical Interferometer (UVOI) with over 200x HST's resolution. It will enable 0.1 milli-arcsec spectral imaging of stellar surfaces and the Universe in general and open an enormous new "discovery space" for Astrophysics with its combination of high angular resolution, dynamic imaging, and spectral energy resolution. SI's goal is to study the role of magnetism in the Universe and revolutionize our understanding of: 1) Solar/Stellar Magnetic Activity and their impact on Space Weather, Planetary Climates, and Life, 2) Magnetic and Accretion Processes and their roles in the Origin and Evolution of Structure and in the Transport of Matter throughout the Universe, 3) the close-in structure of Active Galactic Nuclei, and 4) Exo-Solar Planet Transits and Disks. The SI mission is targeted for the mid 2020's - thus significant technology development in the upcoming decade is critical to enabling it and future space-based sparse aperture telescope and distributed spacecraft missions. The key technology needs include: 1) precision formation flying of many spacecraft, 2) precision metrology over km-scales, 3) closed-loop control of many-element, sparse optical arrays, 4) staged-control systems with very high dynamic ranges (nm to km-scale). It is critical that the importance of timely development of these capabilities is called out in the upcoming Astrophysics and Heliophysics Decadal Surveys, to enable the flight of such missions in the following decade. SI is a "Landmark/Discovery Mission" in the 2005 Heliophysics Roadmap and a candidate UVOI in the 2006 Astrophysics Strategic Plan. It is a NASA Vision Mission ("NASA Space Science Vision Missions" (2008), ed. M. Allen) and has also been recommended for further study in the 2008 NRC interim report on missions potentially enabled or enhanced by an Ares V launch, although an incrementally-deployed version could be launched using smaller rockets.
Carpenter Kenneth G.
Karovska Magarita
Schrijver Carolus J.
SI Development Team
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