Penn State's X-Ray Spectrometer is nearly ready for launch
Team of Penn State researchers partner with NASA to study a supernova
By Patrick Mansell
Ross McCurdy, a graduate student in Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy, makes final adjustments to the X-ray generator, testing the instrument before the spectrometer is carefully packed and sent to NASA. The spectrometer will first be shipped to a NASA facility in Virginia for integration into NASA's system, then on to New Mexico for a September launch date. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
A team of experts in Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy are putting the final touches on "The Rockets for Extended-Source X-ray Spectroscopy” project. The spectrometer is scheduled for a late-September launch with NASA where it will measure a supernova remnant 10 times the size of our sun.. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
Research technician Jessica Mondoskin inspects the vacuum pump attached to a soft X-ray spectrometer. The spectrometer, built by a project team in Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy, is scheduled for a September launch with NASA at Whitesand's Missile Range in New Mexico. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
James Tutt, associate professor in Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy, does some tests on the flight electronics that will allow the project teams soft X-ray spectrometer to communicate with NASA during the September launch of the payload. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
Randall McEntaffer, head of Penn State's Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, makes adjustments to the flight electronics and power supply of the X-ray spectrometer that he and his team built for a September launch with NASA. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
A team from Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy are putting the finishing touches on "The Rockets for Extended-Source X-ray Spectroscopy” project in their Davey Lab facility. The spectrometer will be launched by NASA in late September and will be measuring remnants of a supernova approximately 1,000 light years from earth. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
Ross McCurdy, a graduate student in Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy, makes final adjustments to the X-ray generator, testing the instrument before the spectrometer is carefully packed and sent to NASA. The spectrometer will first be shipped to a NASA facility in Virginia for integration into NASA's system, then on to New Mexico for a September launch date. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
A team of experts in Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy are putting the final touches on "The Rockets for Extended-Source X-ray Spectroscopy” project. The spectrometer is scheduled for a late-September launch with NASA where it will measure a supernova remnant 10 times the size of our sun.. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
Research technician Jessica Mondoskin inspects the vacuum pump attached to a soft X-ray spectrometer. The spectrometer, built by a project team in Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy, is scheduled for a September launch with NASA at Whitesand's Missile Range in New Mexico. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
James Tutt, associate professor in Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy, does some tests on the flight electronics that will allow the project teams soft X-ray spectrometer to communicate with NASA during the September launch of the payload. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
Randall McEntaffer, head of Penn State's Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, makes adjustments to the flight electronics and power supply of the X-ray spectrometer that he and his team built for a September launch with NASA. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
A team from Penn State's Dept. of Astronomy are putting the finishing touches on "The Rockets for Extended-Source X-ray Spectroscopy” project in their Davey Lab facility. The spectrometer will be launched by NASA in late September and will be measuring remnants of a supernova approximately 1,000 light years from earth. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons
Contact
Heather Hottle Robbins
Get the news by email
Subscribe