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

这是一项为期一年的努力，旨在翻新和交付科学级光学仪器，即肢体成像电离层和热层EUV空间计(LITES)，作为美国空军(USAF)计划的一部分，该仪器将作为托管有效载荷在商业卫星上飞行。LITES是一种紧凑、高灵敏度的极端和远紫外光谱成像仪，旨在测量电离层-热层系统中的关键离子和中性物种。它将通过对现有的、经过飞行验证的由提出者开发的高灵敏度成像光谱仪进行改造来建造。具体地说，仪器将进行升级，用更大、更有能力的探测器取代现有的探测器，为仪器提供更大的光谱范围和更低的噪声。为了满足目前的有效载荷计划，升级后的仪器必须在2012年年中准备就绪，这意味着它的建造和测试只剩下不到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，与美国空军和航空航天工业合作，体验现实生活中的太空项目。该仪器的升级将把美国空军这一项目的范围从纯粹的技术演示扩大到科学调查，国家科学基金会参与该项目将有助于确保科学数据免费提供给科学界。最后，该项目将推进微型仪器的技术开发和示范，这可能有助于实现未来的小卫星任务。

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.