The Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for infrared interferometry (BETTII): first flight

Rinehart, Stephen A.; Dhabal, Arnab; Fixsen, D. J.; Juanola-Parramon, Roser; Leisawitz, David; Maher, Stephen F.; Mentzell, John Eric; Mundy, Lee G.; Rizzo, Maxime; Sampler, Henry P.; Sharp, Elmer H.; Silverberg, R. F.; Torres, Marc; Veach, Todd; Lorenzo, Jordi Vila Hernandez de; Ade, Peter A. R.; Tucker, C.; Pascale, Enzo; Savini, Giacomo

doi:10.1117/12.2311497

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Deep Space 3 12 and the StarLight mission 13 were designed to validate the formation flying interferometry in space. Further, new potential paths toward realizing large-scale space interferometers, including balloon-borne platforms 14,15 have been investigated. 16,17 Owing to the rapid technological advancement in microsatellites, they have been considered the precursors' platform for future large-scale space telescopes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High spatial resolution spectral imaging method for space interferometers and its application to formation flying small satellites

Matsuo

Ikari

Kondo

et al. 2022

J. Astron. Telesc. Instrum. Syst.

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Infrared space interferometers can surpass the spatial resolution limitations of singledish space telescopes. However, stellar interferometers from space have not been realized because of technical difficulties. Two beams coming from individual satellites separated by more than a few tens of meters should precisely interfere such that the optical-path and angular differences between the two beams are reduced at the wavelength level. Herein, we propose a unique beam combiner for space interferometers that records the spectrally resolved interferometric fringes using the densified pupil spectroscopic technique. As the detector plane is optically conjugated to a plane, on which the two beams interfere, we can directly measure the relative phase difference between the two beams. Additionally, when an object within the field of view is obtained with a modest signal-to-noise ratio, we can extract the true complex amplitude from a continuous broadband fringe (i.e., one exposure measurement), without scanning a delay line and chopping interferometry. We discovered that this spectral imaging method is validated for observing the solar system objects by simulating the reflected light from Europa with a small stellar interferometer. However, because the structure of the object spectrum may cause a systematic error in the measurement, this method may be limited in extracting the true complex amplitude for other astronomical objects. Applying this spectral imaging method to general astrophysics will facilitate further research. The beam combiner and spectral imaging method are applied to a formation flying stellar interferometer with multiple small satellites in a Sunsynchronous orbit, named Space Experiment of InfraRed Interferometric Observation Satellite (SEIRIOS), for observation of the solar system objects in visible and near-infrared. We present an overview of SEIRIOS and the optimized optical design for a limited-volume spacecraft. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High spatial resolution spectral imaging method for space interferometers and its application to formation flying small satellites

Matsuo

Ikari

Kondo

et al. 2022

J. Astron. Telesc. Instrum. Syst.

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“…21 On a more theoretical and technological project, the Australian National University is looking to demonstrate a linear formation-flying astronomical interferometer in low Earth orbit. 22 It also exists high-altitude experiment such as Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for infrared interferometry (BETTII), a double-Fourier Michelson interferometer placed on a high altitude scientific balloon which flown in 2017 23 , or Planetary Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Rocket Experiment (PICTURE), a sounding rocket with a visible nulling coronagraph which flown in 2015. 24,25 Astronomical CubeSats, smallsats, or projects will emerge more and more in the future.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility study of an interferometric Small-Sat to study exoplanets

Dandumont¹,

Defrère

Loicq

2021

International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2020

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One of the main goals of exoplanet science is to characterize the atmosphere of rocky exoplanets in the habitable zone of nearby stars. A space-based nulling interferometry, observing in the mid-infrared (3-20 μm), is considered to be one of the most promising solutions to tackle this observing challenge. The LIFE project, a free-flying spacebased mid-infrared nulling interferometer, would have this capability. However, several key technologies need to be demonstrated before launching such an ambitious mission. A small space-based mission can be considered as a useful prerequisite. In this paper, we consider three small satellite architectures, two CubeSats, and a PROBA-like satellite. Based on a Bracewell architecture and without free-flying, these monolithic satellites can demonstrate some key components like the null capability and its stability on real targets. The achromatic phase shifter needs also to be demonstrated in space. Based on the scientific capabilities and exoplanet detection yield of these architectures, optical constraints are derived (pointing stability, and optical path difference correction). Orbital simulations, exploring a range of classical orbits for such a satellite, are also discussed.

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“…10 European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA studied several space-based missions during the 2000s [Darwin, Terrestrial Planet Finder-Interferometry (TPF-I), and Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer (FKSI)] but none of them have ever flown. 11 Research is, however, still active with high-altitude experiments such as Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry, a double-Fourier-Michelson interferometer placed on high-altitude scientific balloon which flown in 2017, 12 or Planetary Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Rocket Experiment, a sounding rocket with a visible nulling coronagraph which flown in 2015. 13,14 With the results from these missions, the current technology, future prospects, 10 and the results from Kepler, an interferometric space-based mission can now be re-evaluated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exoplanet detection yield of a space-based Bracewell interferometer from small to medium satellites

Dandumont

Defrère

Kammerer

et al. 2020

J. Astron. Telesc. Instrum. Syst.

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Space-based nulling interferometry is one of the most promising solutions to spectrally characterize the atmosphere of rocky exoplanets in the mid-infrared (3 to 20 μm). It provides both high angular resolution and starlight mitigation. This observing capability depends on several technologies. A CubeSat (up to 20 kg) or a medium satellite (up to a few hundreds of kg), using a Bracewell architecture on a single spacecraft could be an adequate technological precursor to a larger, flagship mission. Beyond technical challenges, the scientific return of such a small-scale mission needs to be assessed. We explore the exoplanet science cases for various missions (several satellite configurations and sizes). Based on physical parameters (diameter and wavelength) and thanks to a state-of-the-art planet population synthesis tool, the performance and the possible exoplanet detection yield of these configurations are presented. Without considering platform stability constraints, a CubeSat (baseline of b ≃ 1 m and pupils diameter of D ≃ 0.1 m) could detect ≃7 Jovian exoplanets, a small satellite (b ≃ 5 m∕D ≃ 0.25 m) ≃120 exoplanets, whereas a medium satellite (b ≃ 12.5 m∕D ≃ 0.5 m) could detect ∼250 exoplanets including 51 rocky planets within 20 pc. To complete our study, an analysis of the platform stability constraints (tip/tilt and optical path difference) is performed. Exoplanet studies impose very stringent requirements on both tip/tilt and OPD control.

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The Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for infrared interferometry (BETTII): first flight

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

High spatial resolution spectral imaging method for space interferometers and its application to formation flying small satellites

High spatial resolution spectral imaging method for space interferometers and its application to formation flying small satellites

Feasibility study of an interferometric Small-Sat to study exoplanets

Exoplanet detection yield of a space-based Bracewell interferometer from small to medium satellites

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