Mechanical design and development of SPRITE: a 12U CubeSat with a far-ultraviolet imaging spectrograph

Dana Chafetz; Brian T. Fleming; Jack Williams; Raymie L. Fotherby; Alex Tompkins; Natalie K. Anderson; Rick Kohnert; Kevin France; Dmitry Vorobiev; Oswald Siegmund

doi:10.1117/12.2594006

24 August 2021 Mechanical design and development of SPRITE: a 12U CubeSat with a far-ultraviolet imaging spectrograph

Dana Chafetz, Brian T. Fleming, Jack Williams, Raymie L. Fotherby, Alex Tompkins, Natalie K. Anderson, Rick Kohnert, Kevin France, Dmitry Vorobiev, Oswald Siegmund

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11821, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXII; 118210E (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594006
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2021, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Slated to launch in early 2023, Supernova Remnants and Proxies for Re-Ionization Testbed Experiment (SPRITE) is the first NASA funded 12U astrophysics CubeSat payload and the first orbital astrophysics instrument to operate in the windowless Far-ultraviolet (1000 - 1750 Å) since the deployment of HST-COS. SPRITE is an imaging spectrograph with 10 arcsecond angular resolution, breaking new ground with scientific observations enabled by a compact microchannel plate detector system and advanced protected eLiF mirror coatings baselined for the LUVOIR Surveyor. To provide flexibility and customizability the spacecraft bus and spectrograph are all being designed in house at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics. SPRITE features several unique mechanical subsystems such as the pump/purge system for the hermetically sealed detector housing, the release mechanism for the detector door, the release mechanism for the solar array, the solar panel design, and compact rectangular telescope. SPRITE's mechanical design meets all science requirements, the CubeSat specific requirements of commercial 12U dispenser systems, and NASA orbital debris limits. We present an overview of the design and development of the mechanical systems and mechanisms for SPRITE prior to the comprehensive design review (CDR).

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Dana Chafetz, Brian T. Fleming, Jack Williams, Raymie L. Fotherby, Alex Tompkins, Natalie K. Anderson, Rick Kohnert, Kevin France, Dmitry Vorobiev, and Oswald Siegmund "Mechanical design and development of SPRITE: a 12U CubeSat with a far-ultraviolet imaging spectrograph", Proc. SPIE 11821, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXII, 118210E (24 August 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594006

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available