IMAPS: A High-Resolution, Echelle Spectrograph To Record Far-Ultraviolet Spectra Of Stars From Sounding Rockets

A novel sounding rocket payload consisting of a slitless objective grating spectrograph with no transmission elements in the optical train (or detector) is described. This instrument, called the interstellar medium absorption profile spectrograph (IMAPS), is designed to provide continuous coverage over the wavelength range of 950-1150 A; it has an effective collecting area of about 4 sq cm and can record spectra of pointlike sources at a wavelength resolution of 0.004 A and with a sample interval of 0.002 A. The successful use of this instrument aboard a Black Brant rocket is described.