Sure , place - based X - Ray telescopes have been in service since theEinstein Observatorylaunched back right smart back in 1978 . But the NuSTAR Project is different : It promises to illuminate at the heavens above as never before .
While theChandra ObservatoryandXMM - Newtonimproved upon the Einstein Observatory ’s invention , they only did a effective job of read the same stuff : low - energy cosmic cristal - ray emissions .
The NuSTAR lookout , part of NASA ’s Small Explorer planet program ( SMEX-11 ) , will supply scientist with the first concenter telescope that observes the high - energy X - ray of light ( 6 – 79 keV ) spectrum . Until now , revolve hug drug - ray satellites have relied on write in code apertures rather than optics that actually concentre . This characteristic will provide ten to 100 time the clarity of exist soil - base arrangement and detect otherwise unseen high - free energy cosmic X - ray emissions .
To make these observations , the NuSTAR trust an forward-looking optics organisation mounted on the end of an extendable boom that rivet the incoming X - ray for a pair of CZT detecting units . The optics organisation aboard the NuSTAR rely on the Wolter Type I lens , which was developed in 1952 by German scientist Hans Wolter . While his optics were ab initio built for role in an X - ray microscope , they have since been scale up to the macro level—1.5 - feet long with a 15 - in diam , and 33 - metrical unit focal duration . The optic themselves are constructed from the same flexible glass sheets used in laptop and cellular phone screens , bind together with epoxy and shape over preciseness dressed cylindric vitreous silica forms .
These optics sit at the remainder of a an articulated 33 - foot farseeing mast , built by ATK - Goleta . The mast is extendable — which minimizes blank requirements during launching — but provide a stable , movable platform to rise the optics . An adjustment chemical mechanism will assist ensure proper coalition between the optics and detectors once the mast is ab initio deployed and gallop . The NuSTAR also uses a dual laser metrology system to correct for image fuzz .
At the other end of the mast are a duet of detection unit made of 32×32 pixel Cadmium - Zinc - Tellurium detectors . These equipment change disco biscuit - ray to negatron more efficiently than other detector technologies . Each demodulator images severally , transmits the image via a data downlink to a ground station located in Malindi , Kenya where they are recombined for report .
The NuSTAR is expected to launch in mid - June for an initial two - year mission . It will be charged with yield a census of collapse stars and black holes around the plaza of the Milky Way galaxy as well as their ejecting particle super C , observing the beyod the galactic bound , exemplify the conditions that create supernovae . In improver , if any new supernova or gamma - shaft bursts are discovered , the NuSTAR will be capable to offer some truly unprescedented images . [ NuSTAR – NuSTAR PDF – Wikipedia – NASA ]
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