Slewing mirror telescope of the UFFO-pathfinder: first report on performance in space

Abstract

Publication date: 2017 Document VersionPublisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link back to DTU Orbit Citation (APA): Gaikov, G., Jeong, . S., Agaradahalli, V. G., Park, I. H., Budtz-Jørgensen, C., Castro-Tirado, A. J., ... . Slewing mirror telescope of the UFFO-pathfinder: first report on performance in space. Optics Express, 25(23), 29143-29154. DOI: 10.1364/OE.25.029143 Slewing mirror telescope of the UFFO-pathfinder: first report on performance in space G. GAIKOV, 1,2 S. JEONG, 1,2,3,11 V. G. AGARADAHALLI, 1 Physics, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066, Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16419, South Korea 2 Institute of Science and Technology in Space, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066, Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16419 Technology and Science, Jawahar Nagar, Shamirpet Mandal, India * ilpark@skku.edu Abstract: To observe the early optical emissions from gamma ray bursts (GRBs), we built the Slew Mirror Telescope. It utilizes a 150 mm motorized mirror to redirect incoming photons from astrophysical objects within seconds and to track them as compensating satellite movements. The SMT is a major component of the UFFO-pathfinder payload, which was launched on April 28, 2016, onboard the Lomonosov satellite. For the first time, the slewing mirror system has been proven for the precision tracking of astrophysical objects during space operation. We confirmed that the SMT has 1.4 seconds of response time to the X-gamma-ray trigger, and is able to compensate for satellite drift and to track astrophysical objects with magnitudes from 7 to 18.

Space missions for astronomy and astrophysics in Korea: past, present, and future

“…The SMT observation time is 80 s, and a total of 1700 frames of data are acquired. The exposure time of the first 880 frames is 20 ms, the exposure time of the subsequent 820 frames is 40 ms, and a 20-ms gap exists between each frame [96]. The exposure time can be adjusted via the interface between the ground and the satellite.…”

Space Missions for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Korea: Past, Present, and Future

“…The SMT observation time is 80 seconds and a total of 1700 frames of data is acquired. The exposure time of the first 880 frames is 20 ms, the exposure time of the subsequent 820 frames is 40 ms, and there is a 20 ms gap between each frame [96]. The exposure time can be adjusted via the interface between the ground and satellite.…”

ICRC Rapporteur: Space Based Gamma-ray Astronomy

“…We heard about their GRB measurements and (computer automated) track identification. The ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO) was launched in 2016 April and is designed to detect the prompt optical emission from GRBs [68]. UFFO uses a novel slewing mirror telescope with a 1.4 second response time (Figure 16).…”

“…Gamma-rays (Space) Jeremy S. Perkins Figure 16: The UFFO pathfinder as presented by [68]. It contains a Burst Alert and Trigger Telescope (1), and a fast slewing mirror system (5).…”