The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a Small Explorer Mission that will be proposed in response to NASA's upcoming Announcement of Opportunity. IXPE will transform our understanding of the most energetic and exotic astrophysical objects, especially neutron stars and black holes, by measuring the linear polarization of astronomical objects as a function of energy, time and, where relevant, position. As the first dedicated polarimetry observatory IXPE will add a new dimension to the study of cosmic sources, enlarging the observational phase space and providing answers to fundamental questions. IXPE will feature x-ray optics fabricated at NASA/MSFC and gas pixel focal plane detectors provided by team members in Italy (INAF and INFN). This presentation will give an overview of the proposed IXPE mission, detailing the payload configuration, the expected sensitivity, and a typical observing program.

IXPE - The Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer

Waste recycling is pivotal for deep space exploration or space habitation in life support systems (LSS) to enhance the material closure. This study investigated the enzymatic pretreatment and solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) of wheat straw as the major component of biomass waste in LSS for resource reclamation. Wheat straw compounds, such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin were significantly degraded after pretreatment with degradation at 37.47%, 46.96%, and 14.05%, respectively. SS-AD with the C/N ratio of 25 resulted in more intense lignocellulose degradation (74.20%) and more biogas yield (77.59 L/kg volatile solid) with 30 days digestion. The microbial community variation and diversity were analyzed that common fiber-degrading bacteria including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were dominant while the composition of the microbial genera shifted along with the digestion time. Moreover, a potential feasible strategy for biomass waste management in LSS by SS-AD was proposed. 

Lignocellulose degradation, biogas production and characteristics of the microbial community in solid-state anaerobic digestion of wheat straw waste

Waste recycling is pivotal for deep space exploration or space habitation in life support systems (LSS) to enhance the material closure. This study investigated the enzymatic pretreatment and solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) of wheat straw as the major component of biomass waste in LSS for resource reclamation. Wheat straw compounds, such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin were significantly degraded after pretreatment with degradation at 37.47%, 46.96%, and 14.05%, respectively. SS-AD with the C/N ratio of 25 resulted in more intense lignocellulose degradation (74.20%) and more biogas yield (77.59 L/kg volatile solid) with 30 days digestion. The microbial community variation and diversity were analyzed that common fiber-degrading bacteria including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were dominant while the composition of the microbial genera shifted along with the digestion time. Moreover, a potential feasible strategy for biomass waste management in LSS by SS-AD was proposed.

The purpose of this study was to design an X-ray microcontroller-based ATmega328P microcontroller exposure time measurement device. That can be done by integrating an X-ray detection circuit, analog signal conditioner, ATmega328P microcontroller and Bluetooth module HC-05 to display and control the measurement results on mobile phones Android. The benefits of this research are expected to be able to increase knowledge and expertise in the field of radiology instruments through X-ray machine parameter measurement techniques and assist technicians to calibrate the X-ray exposure time parameters.

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Atmega328P-based X-ray Machine Exposure Time Measurement Device with an Android Interface

The goal of the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) Mission is to expand understanding of high-energy astrophysical processes and sources, in support of NASA's first science objective in Astrophysics: “Discover how the universe works.” Polarization uniquely probes astrophysical anisotropies — ordered magnetic fields, aspheric matter distributions, or general relativistic coupling to black-hole spin — that are not otherwise measurable. IXPE will conduct X-ray polarimetry for multiple categories of cosmic X-ray sources that are likely to be polarized such as neutron stars, stellar-mass black holes, supernova remnants and active galactic nuclei. The IXPE Observatory consists of Spacecraft and Payload modules built up in parallel to form the Observatory during system integration and test. The Payload includes three polarization-sensitive, X-ray detectors, each paired with its corresponding grazing incidence mirror module assembly (MMA). A deployable boom provides the correct separation (focal length) between the detector units (DU) and MMAs. These Payload elements are supported by the IXPE Spacecraft which is derived from the BCP-100 small Spacecraft architecture. This paper summarizes the IXPE mission science objectives, describes the Observatory implementation concept including the payload and spacecraft elements and summarizes the expected concept of operations.

Observatory design for the imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission

NASA has been tasked with implementing a bold vision of the future for human spaceflight including expanding the commercial market and operations in low-Earth orbit (LEO); launching the world's most powerful rocket and deep space crew spacecraft; incrementally establishing a sustainable presence on and around the Moon, starting by landing the first woman and the next man on the surface in 2024 while, in parallel, constructing an orbital Gateway in cislunar space. The key piece of establishing a sustainable presence in deep space is the development of habitation systems that will not only extend mission operations, but provide for living quarters that will keep the crew happy and healthy throughout their expeditions. Beyond the Gateway habitation needs, these capabilities will need to be defined and advanced to support the initial lunar surface missions and to prepare for human missions to the Mars system. The Foundation Surface Habitat (FSH) is the current concept in consideration to serve as this initial surface habitat that will extend the crew mission durations. It will provide 30–60 day habitability for a crew of four allowing for the astronauts to explore farther and longer on each visit to the lunar surface. The Transit Habitat is the current concept under study that would be capable of supporting long-duration missions. These missions could include extended operations at the Gateway or as a free-flyer facility in low-Earth orbit but ultimately, the Transit Habitat is envisioned as the crew habitat that would transport humans on long-duration deep space missions. The Transit Habitat integrated with an advanced propulsion system would serve as the in-space transportation system tasked with safely ferrying humans to and from Mars. Each of these habitation concepts is currently under study internal to NASA, but the agency is also working closely with U.S. industry through the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) activity to understand their concepts for a commercially-provided FSH and Transit Habitat as well as close coordination with our international partners to understand their desires for in-space and surface habitation. This paper will provide a status of these concepts and partnership activities as well as potential future development paths and architecture plans.

Deep Space Habitation: Establishing a Sustainable Human Presence on the Moon and Beyond

The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) project is an international collaboration to build and fly a polarization sensitive X-ray observatory. The IXPE Observatory consists of the spacecraft and payload. The payload is composed of three X-ray telescopes, each consisting of a mirror module optical assembly and a polarization-sensitive X-ray detector assembly; a deployable boom maintains the focal length between the optical assemblies and the detectors. The goal of the IXPE Mission is to provide new information about the origins of cosmic X-rays and their interactions with matter and gravity as they travel through space. IXPE will do this by exploiting its unique capability to measure the polarization of X-rays emitted by cosmic sources. The collaboration for IXPE involves national and international partners during design, fabrication, assembly, integration, test, and operations. The full collaboration includes NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Ball Aerospace, the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the Italian Institute of Astrophysics and Space Planetology (IAPS)/Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), the University of Colorado (CU) Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), Stanford University, McGill University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The goal of this paper is to discuss risk management as it applies to the IXPE project. The full IXPE Team participates in risk management providing both unique challenges and advantages for project risk management. Risk management is being employed in all phases of the IXPE Project, but is particularly important during planning and initial execution — the current phase of the IXPE Project. The discussion will address IXPE risk strategies and responsibilities, along with the IXPE management process which includes risk identification, risk assessment, risk response, and risk monitoring, control, and reporting.

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Lindsey Ingram

Papers

Deep Space Habitation: Establishing a Sustainable Human Presence on the Moon and Beyond

Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) risk management