Astrophysical Sciences and Technology Colloquium: The Road to Habitable Worlds Observatory: Advancing Spectral Multiplexing in the FUV with Sounding Rockets
AST Colloquium
The Road to Habitable Worlds Observatory: Advancing Spectral Multiplexing in the FUV with Sounding Rockets
Zoom Link here
Dr. Emily Witt
Assistant Research Scientist
John Hopkins University
Abstract:
The astrophysics community is currently preparing for the next great space mission, the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). The 2020 Decadal Survey has endorsed both an ultraviolet (UV) spectrograph and imager on HWO including the need to achieve sensitivity at 100 nm. To achieve spectroscopic imaging in this far UV (FUV) regime, efficient methods of spectral multiplexing are required. This necessitates the development and flight testing of new technologies. I will discuss the efforts by sounding rocket payloads such as OAxFORTIS, a multi-object spectrograph, and INFUSE, the first traditional FUV integral field spectrograph, to provide flight heritage for these HWO-enabling technologies while promoting our understanding of cosmic ecosystems with groundbreaking observations.
Bio:
Dr. Emily Witt is an assistant research scientist at Johns Hopkins University who earned her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado. Her work focuses on using suborbital payloads to study the cycle of matter and energy in cosmic ecosystems. She is principal investigator of the Juniper CubeSat mission concept and serves as chair of NASA's Spatially Resolved UV Spectroscopy Science Analysis Group in Support of HWO.
Intended Audience:
Beginners, undergraduates, graduates. Those with interest in the topic.
Event Snapshot
When and Where
Who
Open to the Public
Interpreter Requested?
No