Payload Flight Number:

2008-04

Institution:

The Pennsylvania State University

Payload Title:

High Energy Monitoring Instrument (HEMI)

Student Leader:

Brian Schratz
Electrical Engineering
323 Electrical Engineering East
University Park, PA 16802
schratz@psu.edu
814-441-0820

Faculty Advisor:

Dr. Sven Bilén
Engineering Design, Electrical Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering
213N Hammond Building
University Park, PA 16802-1401
sbilen@psu.edu
Office: 814-863-1526
Fax: 814-863-7229

Payload class:

Small

Payload ID Number:

04

Mass:

2.6 kg

Current:

0.07 A @ 30V

Serial Downlink:

4800 baud

Analog Downlink:

Payload Specification & Integration Plan

Due: 6/1/2008

Payload Integration Certification

Scheduled:

Flight Operation Plan

Due:

Final Flight / Science Report

Due: 12/15/2008

Abstract:

            The High Energy Monitor Instrument (HEMI) is being developed by students at the Pennsylvania State University to detect when a gamma ray burst (GRB) occurs and record data on the event. Ultimately, HEMI is intended to be a student instrument for measuring GRBs on a future satellite. As the challenges for developing student satellite hardware are significant, a precursor balloon flight will provide the necessary heritage to enable a more costly and complex project.

            As GRB events are rare, on this flight, the instrument will be used to study cosmic showers as a precursor to studying GRBs. HEMI will collect information as to the number of particles and their energies that it intercepts per time interval. When this number increases dramatically, this indicates a cosmic shower. HEMI will record data in a similar manner as if this were a GRB to prepare for future GRB instruments.

            There are currently 10 undergraduates and one graduate student participating on this project from physics, astronomy and astrophysics, and aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering. The project is managed by the Penn State Student Space Programs Laboratory.  HEMI conforms to all of the requirements specified in the Call for Proposals and requires no additional resources beyond those already allocated by the program.

Summary Status:

Original

Summary Date:

February 8, 2008