Design, Implementation, and Performance of the Cryogenic System for the EXoplanetClimate Infrared TElescope (EXCITE) Balloon Payload

Files

Nagler_EXCITE_BalloonTech_revB.pdf (3.34 MB)

Links to Files

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20250004649

Permanent Link

http://hdl.handle.net/11603/41917

Collections

UMBC Center for Space Sciences and Technology (CSST) / Center for Research and Exploration in Space Sciences & Technology II (CRSST II)
UMBC Faculty Collection

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9238-4918

Date

2025-05-07

Type of Work

presentations (communicative events)
Text

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Rights

This is a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.
Public Domain

Subjects

Engineering (General)

Abstract

The EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope (EXCITE) instrument is a 0.5m near-infrared spectrograph that flies from a stratospheric balloon platform. EXCITE is designed to perform phase resolved spectroscopy of hot Jupiter-type exoplanets in the spectral range from 0.8 to 4 microns. This measurement requires excellent photometric stability, imposing significant constraints on allowable mechanical disturbances and component temperatures. The EXCITE science instrument features a cryogenic spectrograph cooled to ~100K, and an infrared focal plane cooled to ~50K. These components are housed within the same dewar and are cooled by a pair of linear pulse tube cryocoolers. In this work, we present the design, implementation, and in-flight performance of the EXCITE cryogenic system. Through both ground and in-flight testing, EXCITE has demonstrated that payloads flying mechanical cryocoolers and their ancillary hardware can achieve the temperature and mechanical stability required for high precision infrared science, in a compact, reliable, and technologically mature format.