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)实验是立方体卫星的一项科学任务，目的是研究太阳耀斑的硬X射线发射。IMPRESS将开发一种新的基于立方体卫星的能力，以高时间和高能量分辨率观测广泛的太阳耀斑(从微型耀斑到X级耀斑)。这些对太阳硬X射线辐射的新观测将解决高能太阳物理中的突出问题，并促进我们对太阳耀斑的科学理解，太阳耀斑在近地环境中的空间天气发展中发挥着重要作用。该项目还将支持研究和教育的整合，以培养一支知识渊博的STEM劳动力队伍。该项目将支持一名职业早期的女性圆周率，并为她提供领导立方体卫星任务的机会。这一点很重要，因为这是朝着培养高级领导力迈出的一步。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)是一种基于经过验证的仪器概念的太阳硬X射线(HXR)光谱仪，搭载在3U立方体卫星平台上。IMPRESS将在第25太阳周期的上升阶段对太阳耀斑进行HXR光谱测量。目标发射日期是2021年底，进入倾角小于60%的近地轨道(LEO)。以及超过450公里的高度。印章飞行任务的科学目标是：(1)通过测量太阳耀斑XR时间剖面的短(2秒)峰值，研究耀斑电子加速时间；(2)通过立体观测HXR指向性测量，调查太阳耀斑中的电子束流；(3)与新的天基仪器协作，对耀斑加速的电子从热能到非热能的分布进行完整评估；(4)开发和演示高能辐射探测器，可测量太阳耀斑、产生电子微暴及其他天体物理爆发的大范围亮度，而不发生堆积或饱和。该项目将为各级学生(从一年级到研究生)提供培训和教育机会。该项目还将吸引当地社区学院CubeSat设计和开发阶段的学生参与。太阳活动是所有空间天气的最终来源，Impress将研究耀斑中发生的基本粒子加速，以此来更好地了解影响地球和地球空间环境的过程。这一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智力优势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.