USA experiment on the ARGOS satellite: a low-cost instrument for timing x-ray binaries

Kent S. Wood; Gilbert G. Fritz; Paul L. Hertz; W. Neil Johnson III; Michael P. Kowalski; Michael N. Lovellette; Michael T. Wolff; Daryl J. Yentis; Edward A. Bloom; L. Cominsky; K. Fairfield; G. Godfrey; J. Hanson; A. Lee; Peter F. Michelson; R. Taylor; H. Wen

doi:10.1117/12.186829

16 September 1994 USA experiment on the ARGOS satellite: a low-cost instrument for timing x-ray binaries

Kent S. Wood, Gilbert G. Fritz, Paul L. Hertz, W. Neil Johnson III, Michael P. Kowalski, Michael N. Lovellette, Michael T. Wolff, Daryl J. Yentis, Edward A. Bloom, L. Cominsky, K. Fairfield, G. Godfrey, J. Hanson, A. Lee, Peter F. Michelson, R. Taylor, H. Wen

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2280, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy V; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.186829
Event: SPIE's 1994 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1994, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The Unconventional Stellar Aspect (USA) experiment on the Advanced Research and Global Observations Satellite (ARGOS) of the Space Test Program is a low-cost, quick, yet scientifically ambitious X-ray timing experiment. The research program emphasizes observing neutron stars and black holes for extended periods with sub-millisecond timing resolution. The scientific program is achieved using hardware whose key features are large collecting area (2000 cm²), energy response extending as low as 1 keV, long accumulated observing times (1 month), high time resolution (1 microsecond(s) ), absolute time-tagging (also to 1 microsecond(s) ) achieved using a GPS receiver, sustained high data rates (40 kbps at all times supplemented by 128 kbps as needed), and flexibility in data handling by using a solid state recorder and a radiation- hardened 20 MIPS 32-bit onboard computer to provide onboard processing.

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Kent S. Wood, Gilbert G. Fritz, Paul L. Hertz, W. Neil Johnson III, Michael P. Kowalski, Michael N. Lovellette, Michael T. Wolff, Daryl J. Yentis, Edward A. Bloom, L. Cominsky, K. Fairfield, G. Godfrey, J. Hanson, A. Lee, Peter F. Michelson, R. Taylor, and H. Wen "USA experiment on the ARGOS satellite: a low-cost instrument for timing x-ray binaries", Proc. SPIE 2280, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy V, (16 September 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.186829

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