Canadian ASTRO H Metrology System Nixes X-ray Telescope Camera Shake

Summary: The Canadian ASTRO H Metrology System nixes x-ray telescope camera shake for the ASTRO H X-ray Observatory via an image sharpness restoration system.

artist's depiction of ASTRO H X-ray Observatory in orbit: JAXA, CC BY 2.0, via NASA Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio

Built by Ottawa-based Neptec Design Group and known as CAMS, the Canadian ASTRO H Metrology System nixes X-ray telescope camera shake for the ASTRO H X-ray Observatory, set for launch Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, into low Earth orbit (LEO) from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center.

The ASTRO-H X-ray Observatory is equipped with four different telescopes to cover a four-decade energy range, from soft X-rays to gamma rays. Differing X-ray colors distinguish different energy levels. Different X-ray colors necessitate differing focal lengths for visibility via telescopes.

Two of the telescopic quartet are Hard X-ray Telescopes. The Canadian ASTRO H Metrology System achieves a focal length of 12 meters for ASTRO H’s Hard X-ray Telescopes. The hard X-ray sensors are affixed to the end of an extendable optical bench (EOB) that measures six meters (19.68 feet) and slides out when the observatory is in its circular orbit.

Neptec Design Group’s construction considers camera shake from swaying of the extendable platform during the observatory’s 3-year low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 575 kilometers (357.28 miles). On-orbit vibrations and extreme day-to-night transitions are expected to jostle the extended platform. Temperatures encountered by ASTRO H transition from a low of minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit) to a high of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

The Canadian ASTRO H Metrology System detects and measures lateral displacements, or sidling movements, and rotational shifts in the extended optical bench. The system measures to an accuracy of at least 60 micro-meters (0.00236 inches).

The Canadian ASTRO H Metrology System consists of two laser units, mounted on the satellite, and a corner cube optical reflector, installed with the hard X-ray sensors at the end of the extended platform. Laser beams fired by the two units onto the corner cube optical reflector are reflected back to the unit to reveal lateral displacement measurements. Comparison of lateral displacement measurements on each hard X-ray sensor yields calculations that restore image sharpness.

illustration showing locations and energy ranges of ASTRO-H science instruments and their associated telescopes. (One keV equals 1,000 electron volts, which is hundreds of times the energy of visible light): JAXA/NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Public Domain, via NASA

The other two of ASTRO H’s four telescopes are Soft X-ray Telescopes (SXTs). Their focal length is 5.6 meters. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is responsible for providing the two Soft X-ray Telescopes with identical mirror assemblies.

The principal investigator of Canada’s ASTRO H laser alignment system is Luigi C. Gallo, a professor of astronomy and physics at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His special focus via ASTRO H’s orbital data is fluctuations in X-rays radiated back out into space by supermassive black holes.

Two other Canadian astronomers are involved in the science working group for the ASTRO H X-ray Observatory. Brian McNamara is a professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Waterloo and holds the University Research Chair in Astrophysics there. His special focus via ASTRO H’s orbital data is determining the rate of growth of supermassive black holes. Dr. Samar Safi-Harb, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Supernova (Remnants) Astrophysics at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, plans to investigate supernova explosion’s associated high-energy phenomena.

The realization of the Canadian ASTRO H Metrology System reflects the experience and expertise of Neptec Design Group Ltd. as a prime contractor for both the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and NASA since 1955.

Led by the Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA), the ASTRO H mission represents an international collaboration of over 70 institutions in Canada, Europe, Japan and the United States. The mission has the stated aim of exploring “the structure and evolution of the Universe.”

ASTRO-H spacecraft at Tsukuba Space Center, Japan, Nov. 27, 2015 (left); one of Goddard's two mirror assemblies for ASTRO H's two Soft X-Ray Telescopes (upper right); Soft X-ray Spectrometer's microcalorimeter array (center right): NASA Goddard @NASAGoddard via Twitter Feb. 10, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

ASTRO H Science instruments, including telescopes: JAXA/NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Public Domain, via NASA @ http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/new-x-ray-space-observatory-to-study-black-holes-and-history-of-galaxy-clusters

artist's depiction of ASTRO H X-ray Observatory: JAXA, CC BY 2.0, via NASA Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio @ http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=12120

ASTRO-H spacecraft at Tsukuba Space Center, Ibaraki Prefecture, east central Honshu, Japan, Nov. 27, 2015 (left); one of Goddard's two mirror assemblies for ASTRO H's two Soft X-Ray Telescopes (upper right); Soft X-ray Spectrometer's microcalorimeter array (center right): NASA Goddard‏ @NASAGoddard via Twitter Feb. 10, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/NASAGoddard/status/697427089696428032

For further information:

"ASTRO-H overview." JAXA/ISAS (Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science) ASTRO-H.
Available @ http://astro-h.isas.jaxa.jp/en/the-astro-h-mission/astro-h-overview/
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

"ASTRO-H: Japan's X-ray Eyes." Canadian Space Agency > Activities Sectors > Satellites.
Available @ http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/astro-h.asp
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

CBC News. "Halifax scientist off to Japan for Astro-H satellite launch." CBC News > Canada > Nova Scotia. Feb. 6, 2010.
Available @ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/astronomer-luigi-gallo-saint-marys-astro-h-1.3436849
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

Chung, Emily. "ASTRO H x-ray telescope aims to solve black hole mysteries." CBC News > Canada > Technology & Science. Feb. 10, 2016.
Available @ http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/astro-h-1.3440975
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

Gallo, Luigi, et al. "The Canadian Astro-H Metrology System." Proceedings of SPIE 9144, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 914456 (July 24, 2014). DOI: 10.1117/12.2054921; http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2054921
Available @ http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=1892088
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

JAXA. "Launch of ASTRO-H/H-IIA F30 Live Broadcast. YouTube. Streamed live Feb. 17, 2016.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH-wJ1E00wA
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

Kowch737. Astro-H X-ray Mission." YouTube. Feb. 7, 2016.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwG_HgMnzUM
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

NASA Goddard‏ @NASAGoddard. "Black hole enthusiasts, galaxy cluster aficionados & X-ray astronomers get excited." Twitter. Feb. 10, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/NASAGoddard/status/697427089696428032

Reddy, Francis. "NASA Goddard Spectrometer Launches on Hitomi Observatory." NASA Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio. Feb. 22, 2016.
Available @ http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=12120
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

Reddy, Francis. "New X-ray Space Observatory to Study Black Holes and History of Galaxy Clusters." NASA > Feature > Goddard > Hitomi. Feb. 17, 2016.
Available @ http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/new-x-ray-space-observatory-to-study-black-holes-and-history-of-galaxy-clusters
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

Semeniuk, Ivan. "Canadian astronomers set to probe cosmos with X-ray telescope." The Globe and Mail > News > National. Feb. 4, 2016.
Available @ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-astronomers-set-to-probe-cosmos-with-x-ray-telescope/article28584825/
Available @ http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries

Shelton, Jim. "Yale has a front row seat for a new, international space mission: ASTRO-H. Yale News. Feb. 4, 2016.
Available @ http://news.yale.edu/2016/02/04/yale-has-front-row-seat-new-international-space-mission-astro-h