Characterization of solar X-ray response data from the REXIS instrument
Name
1227037207-MIT.pdf
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6.21 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
c3193fd6d840f9e4799a5bdd81297ba8
Author(s)
Cummings, Andrew T.
Advisor(s)
Richard P. Binzel, Rebecca A. Masterson and Branden T. Allen.
Date Issued
2020
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The REgolith X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (REXIS) is a student-built instrument that was flown on NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Safety, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission. During the primary science observation phase, the REXIS Solar X-ray Monitor (SXM) experienced a lower than anticipated solar x-ray count rate. Solar x-ray count decreased most prominently in the low energy region of instrument detection, and made calibrating the REXIS main spectrometer difficult. This thesis documents a root cause investigation into the cause of the low x-ray count anomaly in the SXM. Vulnerable electronic components are identified, and recommendations for hardware improvements are made to better facilitate future low-cost, high-risk instrumentation. A CAST Analysis is conducted and programmatic recommendations for future student instruments are provided.
Description
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2020
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 117-119).
Subjects
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
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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