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

脉冲相位快速高能太阳光谱仪（IMPRESS）实验是一项立方体卫星科学任务，用于研究太阳耀斑的硬x射线发射。IMPRESS将开发一种新的基于立方体卫星的能力，以高时间和能量分辨率观测大范围的太阳耀斑（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，太阳耀斑在近地环境空间天气的发展中起着重要作用。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。该项目将支持一名早期职业女性PI，并为她提供领导立方体卫星任务的机会。这很重要，因为这是培养高级领导力的一步。在地球空间科学领域担任高级领导职位的妇女人数不足。脉冲相位快速高能太阳光谱仪（IMPRESS）是一种基于成熟仪器概念的太阳硬x射线（HXR）光谱仪，搭载在3U CubeSat平台上。IMPRESS将对第25太阳周期上升阶段的太阳耀斑进行HXR光谱分析。目标发射日期是2021年底，进入近地轨道（LEO），倾角小于60？高度超过450千米。IMPRESS任务的科学目标是：(1)通过测量HXR时间曲线中的短（2秒）峰值来研究耀斑电子加速时间尺度；(2)通过立体HXR定向测量研究太阳耀斑中的电子束；(3)与新的天基仪器合作，提供从热能到非热能的耀斑加速电子分布的完整评估；(4)研制并演示一种高能辐射探测器，该探测器可以测量太阳耀斑、沉降电子微暴和其他天体物理暴的大范围亮度，而不会堆积或饱和。该项目将为各级学生（大一至研究生）提供培训和教育机会。该项目还将吸引当地社区大学的学生参与立方体卫星的设计和开发阶段。太阳活动是所有空间天气的最终来源，IMPRESS将研究在耀斑中发生的基本粒子加速，以此更好地了解影响地球和地球空间环境的过程。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.