University of Massachusetts Lowell PICTURE-B Mission Completed
April 12 2016 - 11:00AM
Designed to significantly advance the science and technology
supporting exoplanet research, the PICTURE-B mission of the Lowell
Center for Space Science and Technology at the University of
Massachusetts Lowell successfully launched and returned to Earth on
Nov. 25, 2015 from NASA's White Sands, New Mexico Test Facility.
Using a primary mirror engineered and built by AOA Xinetics, a
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) company, PICTURE-B observed
the star Rigel from space and reached an apogee of 217 km. Northrop
Grumman provided the mirror to UMass Lowell to support this
important astrophysics program. The 22-inch diameter silicon
carbide mirror successfully withstood launch and impact on landing,
and will be used for future missions.
PICTURE-B (Planet Imaging Coronagraphic Technology Using a
Reconfigurable Experimental Base) was designed to measure light
reflected by dust in debris disks around nearby stars. Accurate
measurements of dust are a critical part of exoplanet research, as
the data enables astronomers to assess the impact of the debris and
dust on their observations, thereby improving their ability to
identify and study targeted planets.
"The data gathered by PICTURE-B will have an important impact on
exoplanet exploration," said UMass Lowell Physics Prof. Supriya
Chakrabarti, director of the Lowell Center for Space Science and
Technology. "We are just starting to analyze the information
collected during this extremely exciting project and we are very
pleased that AOA Xinetics was able to build a mirror that could
survive the flight to help make this mission, and future missions,
a success."
To support the stringent scientific goals and minutes-long
observation window of PICTURE-B, AOA Xinetics engineered a robust
silicon carbide aspheric mirror with exceptional performance
because of the optical figure and mission-matched material thermal
properties.
"AOA Xinetics is honored to work with Dr. Chakrabarti and his
team on the PICTURE-B mission and proud to support the efforts to
identify earth-like planets," said Michael Sheedy, business area
manager, AOA Xinetics, Northrop Grumman. "Our silicon carbide
mirrors are a new generation of high performance, lightweight
mirrors for astrophysics and missions like PICTURE-B that require
both precision and durability to advance scientific discovery."
PICTURE-B is part of Northrop Grumman's continued focus on space
as the next frontier for exploration. A worldwide leader in
developing new technology to support current and future military
and civil space programs, Northrop Grumman's innovation enables
deep space discovery and advances knowledge of planet Earth.
AOA Xinetics, part of Northrop Grumman's aerospace products
business unit, designs, develops, and manufactures a wide variety
of standard and custom electro-optic and optomechanical systems for
government, industrial and commercial customers. Since its
inception, AOA Xinetics has been manipulating light from the corner
grocer to the edges of the universe, providing customers with the
highest quality products and services.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems,
cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to government
and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
CONTACT: AnnaMaria White
424-327-0391
annamaria.white@ngc.com
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