GREENBELT, Md. – 23 Feb 11
USRP Intern Explores New IXO Technology
By: Heather L. Ogletree
In May of 2008, the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) began a collaborative effort to explore the evolution of cosmic structures through the creation of the International X-ray Observatory (IXO).
This fall, the Undergraduate Student Research Program teamed Andrew Ross from the University of Maryland with David Robinson at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., to complete a 15 week hands-on internship concerning the IXO project.
Robinson said, “The International X-Ray Observatory will be the world’s next great observatory in the X-ray band.”
Ross added, “The project I am working on...is still in the early technology development stages. We are working on creating a technology that has been theorized but does not exist yet for a mission that is 11 years away.”
The launch of this new X-ray telescope is tentatively scheduled for 2021 with a 5 year lifespan. Being in space above the earth’s atmosphere will allow the telescope to take more accurate measurements, and it will have 20 times more collecting area than previous X-ray observatories.
According to the IXO website, “IXO will discover and map supermassive black holes at very early times when the Universe was still assembling galaxies” which “will uncover the history and evolution of matter and energy, visible and dark.” IXO also hopes to answer fundamental questions in astrophysics about how elements originate and disperse and about how supermassive black holes grow.
In terms of his internship, Ross noted, “My team would give me a problem or an experiment idea they would like research on, and I would have to figure out a way to set up and run the experiment and then present the results. There were no set out instructions...which was challenging at first, but then highly rewarding after I was able to complete the task.“
However, Ross explained, “Everyone I have worked with was willing to take the time to make sure I understood what was going on, and for that I am most grateful. And now looking forward, I have more than enough hands-on experience to feel confident in my abilities.”
Ross is currently studying aerospace engineering and plans to graduate next December.
Ross reflected, “I have always wanted to work for NASA and am thrilled with the opportunity. I have loved every minute of it.”
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For more information about IXO, click here.