The Off-plane Grating Rocket Experiment : Pathfinder Flight and Ultimate Mission (OGRE)

Future X-ray astronomy missions will require large advancements in many key technologies to push sensitivity limits, obtain high spatial and spectral resolution, capture transient events, etc. Spectroscopy remains a key tool for source analysis and current state-of-the-art telescopes are achieving finer foci on lightweight substrates while diffraction gratings are more efficient and capable of higher resolving powers than ever before. Furthermore, detectors are more sensitive with lower noise and better energy resolution. However, most of these advancements have only been made in the laboratory on low to medium fidelity systems that do not address the entirety of issues involved with incorporation of these technologies into a flight-ready telescope. Here we propose continuation of funding for the Off-plane Grating Rocket Experiment (OGRE). This suborbital rocket payload comprises a combination of new technologies with high performance optics, gratings, and detectors for the first time as an X-ray astronomical mission. OGRE employs polished-silicon optics fabricated at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. These optics are currently the baseline optic technology for an X-ray Explorer mission and three X-ray Probes and have produced the highest resolution X-ray test results of any lightweight optic to date. OGRE also utilizes reflection gratings fabricated using novel methods at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) to produce the highest measured X-ray efficiencies and resolving powers achieved for reflection gratings. Finally, the payload incorporates electron-multiplying CCD detectors fabricated by collaborators in the UK that amplify low-energy events and increase the sensitivity of soft X-ray observations. While awaiting continued technology development of the polished silicon optics, we plan to fly an OGRE Pathfinder mission (OGRE-P) in the early stages of this continuation program. OGRE-P will utilize an existing telescope, JET-X, to flight prove the grating array, detector array, and all flight components. This initial flight will reduce risk for the ultimate OGRE rocket payload (OGRE-U) that incorporates the highly critical technology -- high angular-resolution polished silicon optics. OGRE-U will also incorporate the very latest off-plane grating and X-ray detector technology. Using these cutting-edge, high-performance technologies, OGRE will obtain the highest resolving power spectrum in the soft X-ray to date. The astronomical target for observation is Capella, which is a giant binary system with prodigious coronal line emission. The high resolving power spectrum obtained by OGRE will help identify previously blended and unidentified lines while constraining the plasma properties of density and temperature to create a more accurate emission measure model for Capella. The PSU-led team has heritage in designing and launching X-ray spectrometers onboard NASA suborbital rockets. The PSU program provides necessary hands-on training of young researchers in the fields of high energy instrumentation and observation. This research exposes these young trainees to the full experiment cycle of design, fabrication, integration, testing, launch, and data analysis. Continuation of the OGRE program not only supports the launch of a capable payload filled with critical technologies, but also supports a university-based suborbital program that represents an exciting mix of compelling science, heritage, cutting-edge technology development, and training of future scientists in the field.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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