A root cause analysis of REXIS detection efficiency loss during phase E operations
Name
1191820963-MIT.pdf
Size
27.23 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
dc198f376c1f764a2bb8519df58ecd98
Author(s)
Lambert, Madeline(Madeline Marie)
Advisor(s)
Rebecca Masterson.
Date Issued
2020
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The Regolith X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (REXIS) is a student-built instrument flown on NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Safety, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission. During main science operations, the instrument experienced detector efficiency loss in the form of loss of iron calibration source counts, which greatly affected the science output. In this thesis, a root cause investigation is performed on the loss of iron counts, and an optical light leak onto the edge of the instrument's detectors is identified as the most likely cause. A CAST analysis is then performed to identify possible organizational and cultural causes of the design that allowed for an optical light leak, and recommendations for future similar instruments (low-cost, high-risk) are made.
Description
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, May, 2020
Cataloged from the official PDF of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-205).
Subjects
Aeronautics and Astronautics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Terms of Use
MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.
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