Tiny Satellite, Big Discovery: NASA’s BurstCube Detects First Gamma-Ray Burst
Greenbelt, MD – A shoebox-sizedsatellite called BurstCube has made its first detection of a gamma-ray burst, the most powerful explosions in the universe, showcasing the capabilities of these miniature spacecraft inobserving the most dramatic events in space. The discovery, announced on August 29th, marks a significant milestone for the mission, despite challenges posed by asolar panel malfunction that could shorten its operational lifespan.
Launched on March 21st and deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on April 18th, BurstCube is designed to detect, locate, and study short gamma-ray bursts, brief flashes of high-energy light produced by the collision of super-dense objects like neutron stars. These collisions also generate heavy elements like gold and iodine, essential components of life as we know it.
We arethrilled to be collecting scientific data, said Sean Semper, BurstCube’s chief engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. This is a major milestone for the team and for the many early-career engineers and scientists involved in this mission.
The detected event, designated GRB240629A, occurred on June 29th in the constellation Microscopium. The discovery was announced in a General Coordinate Network (GCN) circular on August 29th.
BurstCube is the first CubeSat to utilize NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system, a constellation of dedicated communication spacecraft. Data relayed through TDRS helps coordinate rapid follow-up measurements by other space-based and ground-based observatories through NASA’s GCN.
The satellitealso uses a direct-to-Earth system to regularly transmit data back to Earth, both of which are part of NASA’s Near Space Network (NSN).
However, following BurstCube’s deployment from the space station, the team discovered that one of its two solar panels had failed to fully deploy. This blocked the mission’s star tracker’s view, hindering the spacecraft’s ability to orient itself with minimal drag. While the team initially expected BurstCube to operate for 12-18 months, the increased drag now suggests a re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere in September.
I’m proud of how the team has adapted to this situation and made the most of our time on orbit, said Jeremy Perkins, BurstCube’s principal investigator at Goddard. Small missions like BurstCube not only provide us with opportunities to conduct great science and test new technologies, like our mission’s gamma-raydetector, but also provide valuable learning opportunities for the next generation of astrophysicists.
Despite the challenges, BurstCube’s first detection of a gamma-ray burst demonstrates the potential of CubeSats for space exploration. These miniature satellites offer a cost-effective and agile platform for conducting scientific research, pushing the boundariesof our understanding of the universe.
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