Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array
Encyclopedia
Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is a planned space-based X-ray
telescope that will use grazing incidence mirrors to focus high energy X-rays at 5 to 79 keV
from astrophysical
sources, especially for nuclear spectroscopy. It is the eleventh mission of the NASA
Small Explorer satellite program (SMEX-11) and the first space-based direct-imaging X-ray telescope
at energies beyond those of the Chandra X-ray Observatory
and XMM-Newton
. Mission launch is scheduled for 3 February 2012.
Its primary scientific goals are to conduct a deep survey for black hole
s a billion times more massive than our sun, understand how particles are accelerated to within a fraction of a percent of the speed of light in active galaxies, and understand how the elements are created in the explosions of massive stars by imaging the remains, which are called supernova remnant
s.
The principal investigator is Fiona Harrison of the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech). Other major partners include the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(JPL), University of California at Berkeley, the Danish National Space Center
, Columbia University
, Goddard Space Flight Center
, the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
, the University of California, Santa Cruz
, and Sonoma State University
. NuSTAR's major industrial partners include Orbital Sciences Corporation
and ATK Space Systems
-Goleta
.
In November, NASA selected NuSTAR and four other proposals for a five-month implementation feasibility study.
In January 2005, NASA selected NuSTAR for flight pending a one-year feasibility study. The program was cancelled in February 2006 as a result of cuts to science in NASA's 2007 budget. On September 21, 2007 it was announced that the program had been restarted, with an expected launch in August 2011, though this was later delayed to February 2012.
to launch NuSTAR on a Pegasus XL rocket for 3 February 2012. It had earlier been planned for 15 August 2011. The launch will originate from Kwajalein Atoll.
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
telescope that will use grazing incidence mirrors to focus high energy X-rays at 5 to 79 keV
Kev
Kev can refer to:*Kev Hawkins, a fictional character.*Kevin, a given name occasionally shortened to "Kev".*Kiloelectronvolt, a unit of energy who symbol is "KeV".* Krefelder Eislauf-VereinKEV can refer to:...
from astrophysical
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
sources, especially for nuclear spectroscopy. It is the eleventh mission of the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Small Explorer satellite program (SMEX-11) and the first space-based direct-imaging X-ray telescope
X-ray telescope
An X-ray telescope is a telescope that is designed to observe remote objects in the X-ray spectrum. In order to get above the Earth's atmosphere, which is opaque to X-rays, X-ray telescopes must be mounted on high altitude rockets or artificial satellites.-Optical design:X-ray telescopes can use...
at energies beyond those of the Chandra X-ray Observatory
Chandra X-ray Observatory
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a satellite launched on STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999. It was named in honor of Indian-American physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar who is known for determining the maximum mass for white dwarfs. "Chandra" also means "moon" or "luminous" in Sanskrit.Chandra...
and XMM-Newton
XMM-Newton
The XMM-Newton is an orbiting X-ray observatory launched by ESA in December 1999 on a Ariane 5 rocket...
. Mission launch is scheduled for 3 February 2012.
Its primary scientific goals are to conduct a deep survey for black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
s a billion times more massive than our sun, understand how particles are accelerated to within a fraction of a percent of the speed of light in active galaxies, and understand how the elements are created in the explosions of massive stars by imaging the remains, which are called supernova remnant
Supernova remnant
A supernova remnant is the structure resulting from the explosion of a star in a supernova. The supernova remnant is bounded by an expanding shock wave, and consists of ejected material expanding from the explosion, and the interstellar material it sweeps up and shocks along the way.There are two...
s.
The principal investigator is Fiona Harrison of the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(Caltech). Other major partners include the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
(JPL), University of California at Berkeley, the Danish National Space Center
Danish National Space Center
The Danish National Space Center is a Danish sector research Institute and a part of the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. It is located in Copenhagen at Østerbro...
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard Space Flight Center is a major NASA space research laboratory established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center. GSFC employs approximately 10,000 civil servants and contractors, and is located approximately northeast of Washington, D.C. in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. GSFC,...
, the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, originally named Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, is a United States Department of Energy National Laboratory operated by Stanford University under the programmatic direction of the U.S...
, the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
, and Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
. NuSTAR's major industrial partners include Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation is an American company which specializes in the manufacturing and launch of satellites. Its Launch Systems Group is heavily involved with missile defense launch systems...
and ATK Space Systems
Alliant Techsystems
Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, ', is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated...
-Goleta
Goleta, California
Goleta is a city in southern Santa Barbara County, California, USA. It was incorporated as a city in 2002, after a long period as the largest unincorporated, populated area in the county. As of the 2000 census, the Census-designated place had a total population of 55,204, however, a significant...
.
Optics
NuSTAR employs two grazing incidence focusing optics each of which consists of 133 concentric shells. The supermirror optics used are coated by DTU Space in Copenhagen and assemblied at the Nevis laboratories of Columbia University and expected to be finished by March, 2011.History
NuSTAR's predecessor, the High Energy Focusing Telescope (HEFT), was a balloon-borne version that carried telescopes and detectors constructed using similar technologies. In February 2003, NASA issued an Explorer Program Announcement of Opportunity. In response, NuSTAR was submitted to NASA in May, as one of 36 mission proposals vying to be the tenth and eleventh Small Explorer missions.In November, NASA selected NuSTAR and four other proposals for a five-month implementation feasibility study.
In January 2005, NASA selected NuSTAR for flight pending a one-year feasibility study. The program was cancelled in February 2006 as a result of cuts to science in NASA's 2007 budget. On September 21, 2007 it was announced that the program had been restarted, with an expected launch in August 2011, though this was later delayed to February 2012.
Planned Launch
NASA has contracted with Orbital Sciences CorporationOrbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation is an American company which specializes in the manufacturing and launch of satellites. Its Launch Systems Group is heavily involved with missile defense launch systems...
to launch NuSTAR on a Pegasus XL rocket for 3 February 2012. It had earlier been planned for 15 August 2011. The launch will originate from Kwajalein Atoll.
See also
- Gravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEXGravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEXThe Gravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEX mission is a planned space observatory. The main scientific goal of GEMS is to be the first mission to systematically measure the polarization of cosmic X-Ray sources...
, future hard X-ray telescope measuring polarization - New Hard X-ray Imaging and Polarimetric Satellite Mission (NHXM), future hard X-ray telescope
- Astro-HASTRO-HAstro-H is a planned X-ray astronomy satellite under development by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency . It is expected to be launched in 2014 into the 550 km height orbit around earth. Launch vehicle will be the H-IIA.With a planned weight of 2.4 t, Astro-H will be the heaviest Japanese...
, future x-ray telescope
External links
- Caltech website for NuSTAR
- Education and public outreach site at Sonoma State
- Caltech's Engineering & Science magazine: NuSTAR ReNued
- The High Energy Focusing Telescope: NuSTAR's predecessor
- X-Ray Specs by David J. Craig, Columbia Alumni Magazine. - (Columbia Magazine Spring 2010)
- Harrison, F.A. et al. 2010, SPIE, 7732, 27: NuSTAR reference publication
- arXiv:1008.1362 NuSTAR reference publication, link 2
- Hailey, C.J. et al. 2010, SPIE, 7732, 28: NuSTAR optics reference publication