Shuttle flight test of an advanced gamma-ray detection system. Semi-annual technical report, 1 July-31 December 1983
In August of 1983 the Gamma-Ray Advanced Detector (GRAD) Project was assigned to the AFP-675 Program for flight on a future space-shuttle mission. In order to adapt the experiment to the requirements of AFP-675, a number of changes were made both in hardware and software. However, the necessity for such changes is more than affected by an expansion in scope of the experiment made possible by the introduction of a Payload Specialist into the operation. The principal changes to be made are in the avionics, as GRAD was originally designed for operation through ground-based telemetry. This complete redesigning of our avionics to accomodate operation by a Payload Specialist from the aft flight deck of the Orbiter allows us to take advantage of very recent findings on radiation-induced microprocessor failure in other space shuttle experiments in order to make the GRAD avionics less vulnerable to such latch-ups. Advances in bismuth germanate (BGO) scintillator technology during the year since construction of the prototype GRAD now make it possible to construct a BGO shield with a closed-ended geometry. This improvement will enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, a new type of decay-vetoed calibration probe using an alpha-rather than a beta-emitting radioactive source is being investigated.
- Research Organization:
- Florida Univ., Gainesville (USA). Space Astronomy Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 5781697
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-150316/8/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Shuttle-flight test of an advanced gamma-ray detection system. Final report, 1 July 1983-31 July 1987
The GRAD data acquisition and control system
Related Subjects
GAMMA DETECTION
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SPACE SHUTTLES
ALPHA PARTICLES
BETA PARTICLES
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
GERMANATES
GERMANIUM
MICROPROCESSORS
AIRCRAFT
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMPUTERS
DETECTION
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELEMENTS
GERMANIUM COMPOUNDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES
440101* - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments