Back to Search
Start Over
Onboard dynamic image exposure control for the Star–Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS)
- Source :
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 509:5702-5712
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Oxford University Press (OUP), 2021.
-
Abstract
- The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS) is a 6U CubeSat under development to monitor the flaring and chromospheric activity of M dwarfs at near-ultraviolet (NUV) and far-ultraviolet (FUV) wavelengths. The spacecraft hosts two UV-optimized delta-doped charge-coupled devices fed by a 9-cm telescope and a dichroic beam splitter. A dedicated science payload processor performs near real-time onboard science image processing to dynamically change detector integration times and gains to reduce the occurrence of pixel saturation during strong M dwarf flaring events and provide adequate flare light curve structure resolution while enabling the detection of low-amplitude rotational modulation. The processor independently controls the NUV and FUV detectors. For each detector, it derives control updates from the most recent completed exposure and applies them to the next exposure. The detection of a flare event in the NUV channel resets the exposure in the FUV channel with new exposure parameters. Implementation testing of the control algorithm using simulated light curves and full-frame images demonstrates a robust response to the quiescent and flaring levels expected for the stars to be monitored by the mission. The SPARCS onboard autonomous exposure control algorithm is adaptable for operation in future point source-targeting space-based and ground-based observatories geared towards the monitoring of extreme transient astrophysics phenomena.<br />11 pages, 8 figures; Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS), in press
- Subjects :
- High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE)
Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science
Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
FOS: Physical sciences
Astrophysics::Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM)
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 13652966 and 00358711
- Volume :
- 509
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....688232f470481c46eac31d470bb99771