Payload 03 Information

Abstract:
The work described in this proposal is motivated by the idea of using X-rays and gamma rays emitted by celestial gamma ray bursts (GRBs) as observable signals for deep space relative navigation. The development of a compact GRB detector system is an enabler of this concept. The engineering objective of the experiment being proposed is to upgrade the compact X-ray detectors and their associated hardware that flew on the 2014 HASP mission. The primary upgrade for the 2015 payload will be the replacement of the previous detector system with one featuring improved energy resolution and precision timing capabilities, accomplished through the use of a different scintillator material and geometry as well as upgraded electronics. The scientific objectives of the experiment are to separate individual cosmic ray events into different energy bands, and to examine periods of higher photon flux in these bands along the flight trajectory for possible celestial body identification during flight. Another scientific goal is to quantitatively characterize the detector performance by determining the sensitivity range and energy resolution obtained during the HASP flight. The educational objective is to provide students with a hands-on experience in designing and testing avionics systems. The 2015 HAXDT payload will feature multiple discrete structures located on the HASP payload plate, including a 3U CubeSat infrastructure containing the primary experimentation. The payload is projected to have a mass of 5.6 kg, and current interface requirements include approximately 16 watts of power, and 540 bps of downlink bandwidth.