BurstCube

Artist concept of BurstCube in orbit

BurstCube is a '6U' Cubesat mission (with an approximate size of 10 cm x 20 cm x 30 cm) to detect, localize, and rapidly disseminate information about gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). BurstCube will monitor the sky for variable and unusual transient gamma-ray events. The primary science objective is to detect and characterize short GRBs (<2 s) that are the counterparts of GW sources. BurstCube will also be sensitive to all GRBs such as long duration hypernovae, and supernova (associated, high-redshift, and nearby sub-luminous), and transient galactic sources such as magnetars. BurstCube has been developed at GSFC/NASA.

Mission Characteristics

Lifetime : Launch Mar 2024 ; Expected one year operation
Energy Range : 50 keV–1 MeV
Special Features : Rapid detection and source localization of GRBs and transient sources.
Payload :

The instrument consists of four CsI scintillator detectors read out by arrays of SiPMs.
Each detector is about 90 cm diameter by 19 mm thick CsI crystal housed in an aluminium can.
The all instrument is in size approximately 20cm x 20cm x 10xm.
Field of view > 6 sr and detected events are time tag with < 1msec.
Supporting electronics and communications equipment provide rapid alerts upon event detection.

Science Goals:

Rapid approximate location of gamma-ray burst sources
Detection of binary neutron star mergers, characterized by short gamma-ray bursts and gravitational wave detection with instruments such as the existing LIGO and future LISA spacecraft programs

Archive: The HEASARC will host BurstCube products and catalogs.

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Page authors: Lorella Angelini Jesse Allen

Last modified: Friday, 05-Apr-2024 15:29:42 EDT

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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BurstCube

Mission Characteristics