Photo showing the configuration of the SERTS central bulkhead with the intensified CCD (3072 x 2048
pixels) detector mounted. The red cover protects the slit from dust. The gold colored boxes are the
high voltage power supplies, built by MSFC, for the SERTS instrument.
Unlike satellite missions (which are lost when they re-enter the atmosphere) SERTS is recovered after each flight. This means that the instrument is available for testing technological improvements, all in the context of an otherwise proven instrument. During the SERTS development program we have continuously worked to incorporate technological innovations which would lead to an instrument with improved spatial resolution, improved spectral resolution, and improved sensitivity. In the following paragraph, we summarize the evolution of the SERTS instrument. For additional information see also the flight configuration summary table.
SERTS Flights
Flight 1:September 20, 1983.
The trajectory was nominal and all experiment systems operated properly. Scientific data on film were much fainter than expected, attributed to high residual gas pressure causing EUV absorption within the instrument and to poor reflectivity of the diffraction grating.Flight 2:October 15, 1986.
After numerous range delays due to upper atmospheric winds. Operation of payload was nominal and comprehensive Mission Success Criteria were met.Flight 3:May 5, 1989.
Three very high quality scientific exposures were obtained.Flight 4:May 7, 1991.
This flight incorporated a multilayer grating. Four exposures were obtained on each of two target areas.Flight 5:August 17, 1993.
During this flight, again a total of eight exposures were obtained on two pointing positions.Flight 6:May 15, 1995.
SERTS was again successfully flown, with a total of eight science exposures obtained. Included on the flight was a grating with the multilayer coating optimized to enhance the second order wavelength range of 170-220 Å.Flight 7:November 13, 1996.
This was the first SERTS flight to record the spectrum using an intensified CCD detector. Telemetered science data were obtained.Flight 8:November 18, 1997.
Simultaneous observations were obtained with SOHO-CDS to allow cross-calibration of the two instruments. All flights from 1989 to the present were fully successful, both technically and scientifically.Flight 9:June 24, 1999.
Featured a multilayer-coated, normal-incidence, Ritchey-Chretien telescope with improved scathered light.Flight 10:July 26, 2000.
This mission incorporated a more efficient grating, improved telemetry and on-board memeory, as well as the first flight of "extremeophile" micro-organisms provided by the University of Maryland.
SERTS missions are no longer being flown. The new follow-on mission is the Extreme Ultraviolet Normal Incidence Spectrometer (EUNIS). To learn more visit the EUNIS website!
Last Revised: Wednesday, 29-Nov-2006 07:34:22 EST
Responsible NASA Official: joseph.davila@gsfc.nasa.gov
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