Journal article
Pioneering far UV emission mapping of the circumgalactic medium with Aspera—motivation, mission status, and lessons learned
Journal of astronomical telescopes, instruments, and systems, Vol.11(4), 042216
07/17/2025
DOI: 10.1117/1.JATIS.11.4.042216
Abstract
Aspera is a far ultraviolet (FUV) SmallSat mission in the NASA Astrophysics Pioneers Program with the science objectives surrounding detection and mapping of the warm-hot circumgalactic medium in emission for the first time in nearby galaxies. Aspera comprises a pair of identical long-slit FUV spectrographs optimized to detect faint extended source emission at ∼103nm. The operations phase of the mission will include a commissioning phase, a primary science phase, and a closeout phase. Placed in a Sun-synchronous 500 to 600 km orbit, Aspera will operate in detection, mapping, and calibration modes during the primary science phase to achieve the mission’s science objectives. We note that minor damage outside of the clear aperture of the off-axis parabola mirrors was discovered during the application of high reflectance FUV coatings. It was determined that this damage was likely due to a cold welding effect when the Al optic holder came in contact with the contact point regions of the optic during the enhanced lithium fluoride coating process. These features do not affect the performance of the optic, nor do they pose any structural risk, and they can be avoided for future projects through material selection. The payload critical design is complete, and assembly of the payload began as of summer 2024.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Pioneering far UV emission mapping of the circumgalactic medium with Aspera—motivation, mission status, and lessons learned
- Creators
- Carlos J. Vargas - University of ArizonaHaeun Chung - University of ArizonaCarl W. Hergenrother - Ascending Node Technologies, LLC, Tucson, Arizona, United StatesAafaque R. Khan - University of ArizonaErika T. Hamden - University of ArizonaAlondra Cardona - University of ArizonaLuis Rodriguez de Marcos - Catholic University of AmericaManuel Quijada - Goddard Space Flight CenterJavier Del Hoyo - Goddard Space Flight CenterMateo Batkis - Goddard Space Flight CenterJohn Hennessy - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryHannah Tanquary - University of ArizonaFernando Coronado - University of ArizonaWilliam Verts - University of ArizonaDave Hamara - University of ArizonaSimran Agarwal - University of ArizonaRamona Augustin - Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Potsdam, GermanyJoseph Burchett - New Mexico State UniversityPeter Behroozi - University of ArizonaHeejoo Choi - University of ArizonaLauren Corlies - NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin ObservatoryJason Corliss - University of ArizonaGreyson Davis - University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United StatesRalf-Jürgen Dettmar - Ruhr University BochumAva Doty - University of ArizonaEwan S. Douglas - University of ArizonaElijah Garcia - University of ArizonaGiulia Ghidoli - Ascending Node Technologies, LLC, Tucson, Arizona, United StatesWalt Harris - University of ArizonaKeri Hoadley - University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United StatesJ. Christopher Howk - University of Notre DameMiriam Keppler - University of ArizonaNazende Ipek Kerkeser - University of ArizonaJohn N. Kidd - Ascending Node Technologies, LLC, Tucson, Arizona, United StatesDaewook Kim - University of ArizonaJin-Ah Kim - University of ArizonaKimberly Knott - University of ArizonaJessica Li - University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United StatesJasmine Martinez Castillo - University of ArizonaTom McMahon - University of ArizonaNicole Melso - University of ArizonaJamison Noenickx - University of ArizonaGabe Noriega - University of ArizonaRyan Pecha - University of ArizonaCorwynn Sauve - University of ArizonaDavid Schiminovich - Columbia UniversitySanford Selznick - Ascending Node Technologies, LLC, Tucson, Arizona, United StatesOswald Siegmund - Sensor Sciences, LLC, Pleasant Hill, California, United StatesRebecca Su - University of ArizonaDaniel Truong - University of ArizonaSumedha Uppnor - University of ArizonaEllie Wolcott - University of ArizonaNaomi Yescas - University of ArizonaDennis Zaritsky - University of Arizona
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of astronomical telescopes, instruments, and systems, Vol.11(4), 042216
- DOI
- 10.1117/1.JATIS.11.4.042216
- ISSN
- 2329-4124
- Publisher
- SPIE
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/17/2025
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984865444302771
Metrics
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