Mechanical design, calibration, and environmental protection of the REXIS DAM

The REgolith X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (REXIS) is a joint effort by MIT and Harvard to build the student-collaboration experiment aboard OSIRIS-Rex, an asteroid sample return mission sponsored by the NASA New Frontiers program. OSIRISREx is scheduled to launch to near-Earth asteroid Bennu in 2016. REXIS is a coded-mask imaging X-ray spectrometer that supports the missions scientific goals by globally and spatially mapping the soft X-ray emission spectrum of Bennu. X-rays corresponding to unique elements are fluoresced from the asteroid by incident solar radiation and enter the instrument through a coded-aperture mask composed of a psuedorandom pinhole pattern. The X-rays that pass through the mask strike an array of four charge-coupled devices (CCDs) that detect the incident photon energy and location on the imaging array. A spatial map of selected elemental abundances on Bennu is constructed by cross-correlating the mask pattern with the collected data. The CCDs are integrated into a Detector Assembly Mount (DAM) that serves three critical functions: Mechanical alignment, calibration and protection of the CCDs. In this thesis we outline the overall design of the REXIS DAM with a focus on its three main functions. Chapter 1 provides background on the OSIRIS-REx mission and the REXIS instrument. Chapter 2 discusses the adaptation of the AXAF CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) focal plane mechanical design and X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS) flexprint electrical design for the REXIS DAM. Chapter 3 outlines the heritage of the DAM internal calibration sources from XIS and the MIT MicroX project. Driving science and engineering considerations for a calibration scheme are described and then used to inform the mechanical design of a novel calibration set for the REXIS DAM. Chapter 4 illustrates the need for protection from the space environment and analyzes the specific risks to the detectors and DAM in space. Special coatings and a one-time deployable radiation shield are used to protect the assembly and ensure integrity of REXIS science data. Chapter 5 describes the test performed to validate the CCD alignment scheme and the dynamic model of the radiation cover. Chapter 6 summarizes the key results of the present work and outlines plans for future work on the DAM.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Bralower, Harrison L. (Harrison Louis)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• David W. Miller, Rebecca A. Masterson and Warren P. Seering.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/85228

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/85228