Collaborative Research: CubeSat: High-Cadence Measurement of Solar Flare Hard X-rays

合作研究：CubeSat：太阳耀斑硬 X 射线的高节奏测量

• 批准号: 1840944
• 负责人: John Sample
• 金额: $ 43.8万
• 依托单位: Montana State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-02-01 至 2025-01-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1840944&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; CubeSat; Cadence; Measurement

The IMpulsive Phase Rapid Energetic Solar Spectrometer (IMPRESS) experiment is a CubeSat science mission to study hard X-ray emission from solar flares. IMPRESS will develop a new CubeSat-based capability to observe a wide range of solar flares (from microflares to X class flares) with high time and energy resolutions. These new observations of solar hard X-ray emissions will address outstanding problems in high-energy solar physics and advance our scientific understanding of solar flares, which play an important role in the development of space weather in the near-Earth environment. The project will also support integration of research and education to develop a knowledgeable STEM workforce. The project will support an early career female PI and provide her an opportunity to lead a CubeSat mission. This is important because it is a step towards developing senior leadership. Women are under-represented at senior leadership positions in geospace sciences.The Impulsive Phase Rapid Energetic Solar Spectrometer (IMPRESS) is a solar hard X-ray (HXR) spectrometer based on proven instrument concepts and carried on a 3U CubeSat platform. IMPRESS will perform HXR spectroscopy of solar flares in the rising phase of Solar Cycle 25. The target launch date is late 2021 into a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with an inclination angle less than 60? and altitudes greater than 450 km. The scientific objectives of the IMPRESS mission are (1) to investigate flare electron acceleration timescales by measuring short (2 second) spikes in HXR time profiles; (2) to investigate electron beaming in solar flares via stereoscopic HXR directivity measurements; (3) in collaboration with new space-based instruments, to provide a complete assessment of flare-accelerated electron distributions from thermal to non-thermal energies; (4) to develop and demonstrate a high-energy radiation detector that can measure a vast range of brightnesses in solar flares, precipitating electron microbursts, and other astrophysical bursts without pileup or saturation. This project will provide training and education opportunities for students at all levels (freshman through graduate students). The project will also engage students from a local community college CubeSat design and development phase. Solar activity is the ultimate source of all space weather and IMPRESS will study the fundamental particle acceleration that occurs in flares as a way to better understand the processes which impact earth and the geospace environment.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

脉冲相位快速高能太阳光谱仪 (IMPRESS) 实验是立方体卫星的一项科学任务，旨在研究太阳耀斑的硬 X 射线发射。 IMPRESS 将开发一种基于 CubeSat 的新功能，以高时间和能量分辨率观测各种太阳耀斑（从微耀斑到 X 级耀斑）。这些对太阳硬X射线发射的新观测将解决高能太阳物理学中的突出问题，并推进我们对太阳耀斑的科学认识，这对近地环境空间天气的发展发挥着重要作用。该项目还将支持研究和教育的整合，以培养知识渊博的 STEM 劳动力队伍。该项目将为一位早期职业女性 PI 提供支持，并为她提供领导 CubeSat 任务的机会。这很重要，因为这是培养高级领导力的一步。在地球空间科学的高级领导职位上，女性的代表性不足。脉冲相位快速高能太阳光谱仪 (IMPRESS) 是一款太阳硬 X 射线 (HXR) 光谱仪，基于经过验证的仪器概念，并在 3U CubeSat 平台上运行。 IMPRESS 将在太阳周期 25 的上升阶段对太阳耀斑进行 HXR 光谱分析。目标发射日期是 2021 年末，进入倾角小于 60° 的近地轨道 (LEO)。海拔高度超过 450 公里。 IMPRESS 任务的科学目标是 (1) 通过测量 HXR 时间剖面中的短（2 秒）尖峰来研究耀斑电子加速时间尺度； (2) 通过立体 HXR 方向性测量研究太阳耀斑中的电子束； (3) 与新的天基仪器合作，对耀斑加速电子从热能到非热能的分布进行全面评估； (4) 开发并演示一种高能辐射探测器，可以测量太阳耀斑、沉淀电子微爆发和其他天体物理爆发中的大范围亮度，而不会发生堆积或饱和。该项目将为各级学生（新生到研究生）提供培训和教育机会。该项目还将吸引当地社区大学 CubeSat 设计和开发阶段的学生参与。太阳活动是所有太空天气的最终来源，IMPRESS 将研究耀斑中发生的基本粒子加速，以更好地了解影响地球和地球空间环境的过程。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。