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Big Astrophysics in A Small Package Erin Walter GEMS Spacecraft Lead/Orbital

Big Astrophysics in A Small Package Erin Walter GEMS Spacecraft Lead/Orbital. GEMS Mission. The GEMS mission was selected by NASA as a Small Explorers (SMEX) mission in July 2009 and is scheduled for launch in 2014 on a Pegasus-class launch vehicle

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Big Astrophysics in A Small Package Erin Walter GEMS Spacecraft Lead/Orbital

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  1. Big Astrophysics in A Small Package Erin Walter GEMS Spacecraft Lead/Orbital Small Satellite Conference - GEMS Presentation August 12, 2009

  2. GEMS Mission • The GEMS mission was selected by NASA as a Small Explorers (SMEX) mission in July 2009 and is scheduled for launch in 2014on a Pegasus-class launch vehicle • The GEMS mission will be the first mission to use x-ray polarimetry to characterize the geometry and behavior of x-ray sources, including supermassive black holes and magnetars. • Answers to important questions • How does the spin of a black hole warp space time? • What powers magnetars? • How are cosmic rays accelerated in supernova remnants? Small Satellite Conference - GEMS Presentation August 12, 2009

  3. X-Ray Polarization • Polarization measurements allow us to study: • Scattering • Magnetic fields • Strong gravity GEMS will use these processes to probe black holes, neutron stars and supernova remnants

  4. GEMS Mission Overview Small Satellite Conference - GEMS Presentation August 12, 2009

  5. Spacecraft Design Instrument Mount Points Omni Antenna (1 of 2) • Rotating Entire Vehicle at 0.1 RPM • Instrument interface: 3-point mount brackets on top deck • Spacecraft bus provides: • 16 Gbits of data storage • 106 W of power provided • 4 RS-422 data interfaces • ACS Control and Knowledge • Ample throughput with RAD 750 processor • Fuses and power switches (including for instrument cover and boom actuation) • Instrument is thermally isolated • Instrument has no FOV impingements • 2 Omni antennas mounted on instrument support structure for FOV optimization Pegasus- Class Launch Vehicle Small Satellite Conference - GEMS Presentation August 12, 2009

  6. Payload Design • 0.1 rpm Rotation reduces systematic errors • Three Telescopes • High signal to noise • Redundancy • Three Mirrors • Light weight aluminum foil optics • Proven heritage from ASCA and Suzaku • Technology pioneered at GSFC • 4.5m focal length from extendable optical bench • Three Time Projection Chambers Polarimeters • Photoelectric effect sensitive to polarization • Technology pioneered at GSFC • ATK Boom • Student collaboration Bragg Reflection Polarimeter Small Satellite Conference - GEMS Presentation August 12, 2009

  7. Mission Operations Small Satellite Conference - GEMS Presentation August 12, 2009

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