A: We present the application of a Timepix detector on the VZLUSAT-1 nanosatellite. Timepix is a compact pixel detector (256x256 square pixels, 55x55 µm each) sensitive to hard Xray radiation. It is suitable for detecting extraterrestrial X-rays due to its low noise characteristics, which enables measuring without special cooling. This project aims to verify the practicality of the detector in conjunction with 1-D Lobster-Eye optics to observe celestial sources between 5 and 20 keV. A modified USB interface (developed by IEAP at CTU in Prague) is used for low-level control of the Timepix. An additional 8-bit Atmel microcontroller is dedicated for commanding the detector and to process the data onboard the satellite. We present software methods for onboard post-processing of captured images, which are suitable for implementation under the constraints of the low-powered embedded hardware. Several measuring modes are prepared for different scenarios including single picture exposure, solar UV-light triggered exposure, and long-term allsky monitoring. The work has been done within Medipix2 collaboration. The satellite is planned for launch in April 2017 as a part of the QB50 project with an end of life expectancy in 2019.

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Several different types of X-ray mirrors suitable for use with a microfocus X-ray tube and intended principally for single-crystal diffractometry are discussed and compared. The construction and performance of ellipsoidal mirrors made by an electroforming method are described in detail. The intensity at the mirror focus is comparable with the¯ux obtained with conventional arrangements with X-ray tubes dissipating more than 100 times the power of the microfocus tube.