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A special issue of Aerospace (ISSN 2226-4310). This special issue belongs to the section "Astronautics & Space Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2023 | Viewed by 23750

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ariadna Calcines Rosario

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Guest Editor

Department of Physics, Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI), Durham University, Durham DH1 3DE, UK
Interests: image slicers; integral field spectrographs; ground-based and space instrumentation (solar and night-time); ground-based and space telescopes; optical design; innovative technology

Dr. John Capone

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Guest Editor

Optics Branch, NASA GSFC, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Interests: visible and infrared instrumentation; automated workflows; integrated modelling; development and application of enabling technologies

Dr. Sophie Musset

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Guest Editor

European Space Agency, ESTEC, 2201 Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Interests: X-ray telescopes; gamma-ray telescopes; solar instrumentation; radio telescopes; interferometers

Prof. Paula Chadwick
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Guest Editor

Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
Interests: gamma ray astronomy and instrumentation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Building on the extraordinary success of the James Webb Space Telescope and the remarkable technological advancements that have made it possible to deploy a 6.5-meter telescope in space, this Special Issue aims to showcase the latest developments in Space Telescopes and Payloads. With the ongoing exploration of Mars by rovers and the first-ever flight of a helicopter off Earth, as well as the Solar Orbiter’s unprecedented imagery of the Sun and Parker Solar Probe touching the solar corona, this is an exciting time in the advancement of space-based instruments central to such groundbreaking missions.

Original research contributions are welcome in the following areas:

All spectral ranges are considered: gamma-rays, X-ray, extreme ultra-violet (EUV), ultra-violet (UV), visible, infrared, microwaves, radio waves.
In-orbit, under development, or proposals for missions such as:
- Solar space telescopes;
- Space telescopes for astronomy;
- Space telescopes dedicated to Earth observation;
- CubeSats;
- Payloads: spectrometers, imagers, coronographs, magnetographs, polarimeters;
- Rovers;
- Plasma and particle sensors.
Challenges, current limitations, and ideas to overcome them;
Technological innovations that will benefit the new generation of space telescopes and their payloads such as (but not limited to):
- Image slicer innovations: ideas, designs, techniques, materials and developments;
- IFU solutions;
- Deployable technology;
- Remote controlled technology for space;
- Freeform optical design;
- Miniaturized optical solutions;
- Advances in manufacturing;
- Developments of new materials (including substrates and coatings), techniques and tools;
- Diffraction gratings.

Dr. Ariadna Calcines Rosario
Dr. John Capone
Dr. Sophie Musset
Prof. Paula Chadwick
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Aerospace is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

space telescopes
payloads
space missions
IFUs
mission proposals
CubeSats
advances in technology

Published Papers (4 papers)

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15 pages, 1984 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CMAG: A Mission to Study and Monitor the Inner Corona Magnetic Field

Aerospace 2023, 10(12), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10120987 - 23 Nov 2023

Viewed by 417

Abstract

Measuring magnetic fields in the inner corona, the interface between the solar chromosphere and outer corona, is of paramount importance if we aim to understand the energetic transformations taking place there, and because it is at the origin of processes that lead to coronal heating, solar wind acceleration, and of most of the phenomena relevant to space weather. However, these measurements are more difficult than mere imaging because polarimetry requires differential photometry. The coronal magnetograph mission (CMAG) has been designed to map the vector magnetic field, line-of-sight velocities, and plane-of-the-sky velocities of the inner corona with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions from space. This will be achieved through full vector spectropolarimetric observations using a coronal magnetograph as the sole instrument on board a spacecraft, combined with an external occulter installed on another spacecraft. The two spacecraft will maintain a formation flight distance of 430 m for coronagraphic observations, which requires a 2.5 m occulter disk radius. The mission will be preferentially located at the Lagrangian L5 point, offering a significant advantage for solar physics and space weather research. Existing ground-based instruments face limitations such as atmospheric turbulence, solar scattered light, and long integration times when performing coronal magnetic field measurements. CMAG overcomes these limitations by performing spectropolarimetric measurements from space with an external occulter and high-image stability maintained over time. It achieves the necessary sensitivity and offers a spatial resolution of 2.5″ and a temporal resolution of approximately one minute, in its nominal mode, covering the range from 1.02 solar radii to 2.5 radii. CMAG relies on proven European technologies and can be adapted to enhance any other solar mission, offering potential significant advancements in coronal physics and space weather modeling and monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Space Telescopes & Payloads)

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12 pages, 20688 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Data Downloaded via Parachute from a NASA Super-Pressure Balloon

Jacqueline E. McCleary

and

Georgios N. Vassilakis

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Aerospace 2023, 10(11), 960; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10110960 - 14 Nov 2023

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Abstract

In April 2023, the superBIT telescope was lifted to the Earth’s stratosphere by a helium-filled super-pressure balloon to acquire astronomical imaging from above (99.5% of) the Earth’s atmosphere. It was launched from New Zealand and then, for 40 days, circumnavigated the globe five times at a latitude 40 to 50 degrees south. Attached to the telescope were four “drs” (Data Recovery System) capsules containing 5 TB solid state data storage, plus a gnss receiver, Iridium transmitter, and parachute. Data from the telescope were copied to these, and two were dropped over Argentina. They drifted 61 km horizontally while they descended 32 km, but we predicted their descent vectors within 2.4 km: in this location, the discrepancy appears irreducible below ∼2 km because of high speed, gusty winds and local topography. The capsules then reported their own locations within a few metres. We recovered the capsules and successfully retrieved all of superBIT’s data despite the telescope itself being later destroyed on landing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Space Telescopes & Payloads)

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11 pages, 2007 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer for the Experimental Study of the Gas Composition in Planetary Environments: First Laboratory Results

and

Aerospace 2023, 10(6), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10060522 - 01 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 870

Abstract

A new laboratory Orbitrap^TM cell-based mass spectrometer, OLYMPIA (Orbitrap anaLYseur MultiPle IonisAtion), without a C-trap module, has been developed and constructed. The first operation of the Orbitrap^TM cell-based device with the continuous ion source and without the C-trap module is reported. OLYMPIA is being developed and used as a workbench platform to test and develop technologies for the next generation of spaceborne mass spectrometers and as a laboratory instrument to perform high-resolution studies of space-relevant chemical processes. This instrument has been used to measure the quantitative composition of CO/N₂/C₂H₄ mixtures of the same nominal mass using an electron ionization ion source. The relative abundance of ions has been measured using a short acquisition time (up to 250 ms) with a precision of better than 10% (for most abundant ions) and a mass resolution of 30,000–50,000 (full width at half maximum) over the mass range of m/z 28–86. The achieved mass accuracy of measurements is better than 20 ppm. This performance level is sufficient to resolve and identify the CO/N₂/C₂H₄ components of the mixtures. The dynamic range and relative ion abundance measurements have been evaluated using a reference normal isotopic distribution of krypton gas. The measurement accuracy is about 10% for the 4 most abundant isotopes; 6 isotopes are detectable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Space Telescopes & Payloads)

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17 pages, 5745 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

The Large Imaging Spectrometer for Solar Accelerated Nuclei (LISSAN): A Next-Generation Solar γ-ray Spectroscopic Imaging Instrument Concept

Aerospace 2023, 10(12), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10120985 - 23 Nov 2023

Viewed by 519

Abstract

Models of particle acceleration in solar eruptive events suggest that roughly equal energy may go into accelerating electrons and ions. However, while previous solar X-ray spectroscopic imagers have transformed our understanding of electron acceleration, only one resolved image of γ-ray emission from solar accelerated ions has ever been produced. This paper outlines a new satellite instrument concept—the large imaging spectrometer for solar accelerated nuclei (LISSAN)—with the capability not only to observe hundreds of events over its lifetime, but also to capture multiple images per event, thereby imaging the dynamics of solar accelerated ions for the first time. LISSAN provides spectroscopic imaging at photon energies of 40 keV–100 MeV on timescales of ≲10 s with greater sensitivity and imaging capability than its predecessors. This is achieved by deploying high-resolution scintillator detectors and indirect Fourier imaging techniques. LISSAN is suitable for inclusion in a multi-instrument platform such as an ESA M-class mission or as a smaller standalone mission. Without the observations that LISSAN can provide, our understanding of solar particle acceleration, and hence the space weather events with which it is often associated, cannot be complete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Space Telescopes & Payloads)

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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Downloaded by parachute: data recovery from SuperBIT23
Authors: Richard Massey; Ellen Sirks
Affiliation: Durham University Physics Department
Abstract: In April-May 2023, the SuperBIT telescope flew to the Earth’s stratosphere for 40 days (and 45 nights) under a superpressure balloon. After being launched from New Zealand, it circumnavigated the globe five times, at a latitude 40-50 degrees South, repeatedly passing over Argentina and Chile. Attached to the telescope were “DRS” (Data Recovery Systems) containing a hard drive, GPS receiver and Iridium transmitter. Data from the telescope were copied to these and two were dropped, with a parachute. They were successfully tracked and recovered. All the data has been recovered safely - despite the telescope being destroyed on landing, when its (much larger) parachute failed to detach.

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