Cubex: A Compact X-Ray Telescope Enables Both X-Ray Fluorescence Imaging Spectroscopy and Pulsar Timing Based Navigation

Stupl, Jan ; Hong, Jaesub ; Ebert, Monica L ; Mauro, David ; Romaine, Suzanne ; Wickizer, Brittany M

关键词: CUBESATS;    X RAY TELESCOPES;    X RAY FLUORESCENCE;    X RAY IMAGERY;    X RAY SPECTROSCOPY;    SPACE NAVIGATION;    CELESTIAL NAVIGATION;    LUNAR EXPLORATION;    PULSARS;    ABUNDANCE;    AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION;    HIGH RESOLUTION;    MISSION PLANNING;   

RP-ID  :  ARC-E-DAA-TN59655

美国|英语

来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

This paper describes the miniaturized X-ray telescope payload, CubeX, in the context of a lunar mission. The first part describes the payload in detail, the second part summarizes a small satellite mission concept that utilizes its compact form factor and performance. This instrument can be used for both X-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging spectroscopy and X-ray pulsar timing-based navigation (XNAV). It combines high angular resolution (<1 arcminutes) Miniature Wolter-I X-ray optics (MiXO) with a common focal plane consisting of high spectral resolution (<150 eV at 1 keV) CMOS X-ray sensors and a high timing resolution (< 1 Amp-microsecond) SDD X-ray sensor. This novel combination of the instruments enables both XRF measurements and XNAV operations without moving parts, in a small form factor (volume approximately 1 by 1 by 6 Units, and mass, < 6 kg). In this paper we illustrate one potential application for a lunar mission concept: The elemental composition of the Moon holds keys to understanding the origin and evolution of both the Moon and the Earth. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), induced either by solar X-ray flux or energetic ions, carries decisive signatures of surface elemental composition. In between XRF observations, CubeX also leverages the technology of high resolution X-ray imaging and time series measurements to conduct XNAV operations and evaluate their performance.