RIT astrophysics graduate students conduct experiment at White Sands Missile Range Quest is on to find the first glimmer of light in the universe
Serena Tramm, a Ph.D. student from Palos Verdes, Calif., and Mike Ortiz, a master’s student from Flagstaff, Ariz., are pursuing their studies in astrophysics and have been working alongside Michael Zemcov, assistant professor in RIT’s School of Physics and Astronomy. Together, the team conducted an experiment that resulted in traveling to New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range for the first CIBER-2 launch earlier this year.
What is the impact of the CIBER-2 experiment and launch?
Tramm: I work on the CIBER-2 sounding rocket experiment with Dr. Zemcov that aims to measure the first epoch of light in the universe — when the first stars and galaxies lit up. During the 15-minute flight of our experiment, we take infrared images of dark patches in the sky to see back into the past.
We had our first successful launch this summer at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. I was lucky enough to go to New Mexico for the launch and help with the assembly of the rocket. I also helped with calibration and optical-focusing tests, as well as the recovery of our payload after it returned to the ground. I am currently working with all of our collaborators to organize and lead the refurbishment of the experiment for three future launches.
The beginning and history of the universe are something that many are currently trying to understand, and the results of our experiment would be a great step forward. We are at the forefront of what telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope hope to uncover.