First Operation of TES Microcalorimeters in Space with the Micro-X Sounding Rocket
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Author(s) • • • • • • • • •
Adams, J. S
Baker, R.
Bandler, S. R
Bastidon, N.
Danowski, M. E
Doriese, W. B
Eckart, M. E
Figueroa-Feliciano, E.
Goldfinger, D. C
Heine, S. N T
Date Issued
January 2, 2020
Publisher
Springer US
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
Abstract
Micro-X is a sounding rocket-borne instrument that uses a microcalorimeter array to perform high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy. This instrument flew for the first time on July 22nd, 2018, from the White Sands Missile Range, USA. This flight marks the first successful operation of a transition-edge sensor array and its time-division multiplexing readout system in space. This launch was dedicated to the observation of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. A failure in the attitude control system prevented the rocket from pointing and led to no time on target. The onboard calibration source provided X-rays in flight, and it is used to compare detector performance during preflight integration, flight, and after the successful post-flight recovery. This calibration data demonstrate the capabilities of the detector in a space environment as well as its potential for future flights.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-019-02293-5