RAPID: Limb-imaging Ionospheric and Thermospheric EUV Spectrograph (LITES)

这是一项为期一年的工作，旨在翻新和交付科学级光学仪器、临边成像电离层和热层 EUV 光谱仪 (LITES)，作为美国空军 (USAF) 计划的一部分，该仪器将作为商业卫星上的托管有效载荷进行飞行。 LITES 是一款紧凑型高灵敏度极紫外光谱成像仪，旨在测量电离层-热层系统中的关键离子和中性物质。它将通过修改提议者开发的现有的、经过飞行验证的高灵敏度成像光谱仪来构建。具体来说，该仪器将通过用更大、功能更强的检测器替换现有检测器来升级，从而为仪器提供扩展的光谱范围以及更低的噪音。 为了满足当前的有效载荷计划，升级后的仪器必须在 2012 年中期之前准备就绪，这样其建造和测试的时间就只剩下不到 12 个月的时间。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供宝贵的机会，让他们体验与美国空军和航空航天工业合作的现实太空项目。 该仪器的升级将把美国空军项目的范围从纯粹的技术演示扩大到科学调查，并且国家科学基金会参与该项目将有助于确保科学界免费获得科学数据。 最后，该项目将推进小型化仪器的技术开发和示范，这可能有利于未来小型卫星任务的实现。

This is a one-year effort to refurbish and deliver a scientific grade optical instrument, Limb-imaging Ionospheric and Thermospheric EUV Spactrograph (LITES), which will be flown as a hosted payload onboard a commercial satellite as part of a US Air Force (USAF) program. LITES is a compact, high-sensitivity extreme and far ultraviolet spectral imager designed to measure key ion and neutral species in the ionosphere-thermosphere system. It will be constructed by modifying an existing, flight-proven high-sensitivity imaging spectrograph developed by the proposer. Specifically, the instrument will be upgraded by replacing the existing detector with a larger, more capable detector, providing an extended spectral range for the instrument as well as lower noise. To meet the current schedule for the payload, the upgraded instrument must be ready by mid 2012, which leaves less than 12 months for its construction and testing. The project will provide valuable opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to experience a real life space project in collaboration with the USAF and aerospace industry. The upgrade to the instrument will expand the scope of this USAF project from purely technology demonstration to a science investigation and the NSF participation in the project will help ensure that the science data is made freely available to the scientific community. Finally, the project will advance the technological development and demonstration of miniaturized instruments that may benefit the realization of future small satellite missions.