Remote Sensing of Planetary Surfaces Using Gamma-Ray/X-ray Spectroscopy
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gamma rays planetary gamma rays planetary x-rays G↗
Engineering topics
Rester, A. C.
Publications and source records attributed to Rester, A. C..
Spectral Analysis in High Radiation Space Backgrounds with Robust Fitting
Spectral analysis software is tested for its ability to fit spectra from space. The approach, which emphasizes the background shape function, is uniquely suited to the identification of weak-strength nuclides in high-radiation background environments.
Lasche, G. P.↗
Induced Radioactivity Measured in a Germanium Detector After a Long Duration Balloon Flight
A 13-day long duration balloon flight carrying a germanium detector was flown from Williams Field, Antartica in December 1992. After recovery of the payload the activity induced in the detector was measured.
Starr, R.↗
Analysis of Phobos mission gamma ray spectra from Mars
The determination of the elemental composition of the surface of a planetary body can be achieved, in many cases, by remote-sensing gamma ray spectroscopy. A gamma ray spectrometer was carried on the Soviet spacecraft Phobos-2, and obtained data while in an elliptical orbit around Mars. Results of two independent approaches to data analysis, one by the Soviet group and one by an American group are reported. The results for five elements are given for two different orbits of Mars. Major geologic units that contribute to the signal for each orbit have been identified. The results from the two techniques are in general agreement and there appear to be no geologically significant differences between the results for each orbit.
Trombka, J. I.↗
Joint US-USSR Long duration Antarctic Mars calibration Balloon (LAMB) mission
The Long duration Antarctic Mars calibration Balloon (LAMB) project has been established at Goddard Space Flight Center for the evaluation and cross calibration of U.S. and USSR remote sensing gamma-ray and neutron detectors. These detectors are analogs of those flown on the Soviet Phobos mission around Mars and those to be flown on the upcoming U.S. Mars Observer mission. Cosmic rays, which are normally filtered out by the atmosphere, and the earth's magnetic field, will induce gamma-ray and neutron emissions from about a half ton of simulated Mars soil aboard the gondola. The cross calibration of these instruments should greatly facilitate the data analysis from both missions and play a role in U.S.-USSR cooperation in space.
Floyd, S. R.↗
Performance of bismuth germanate active shielding on a balloon flight over Antarctica
The GRAD (Gamma-Ray Advanced Detector) gamma-ray spectrometer was flown on a balloon at an altitude of 36.6 km over Antarctica on January 8-10, 1988, where it was used to make observations of SN 1987A. The performance of the bismuth germanate (BGO) active shielding in the near-space environment over Antarctica is examined. The promised effectiveness of this shielding in the suppression of unwanted background has been demonstrated. The BGO-shielded GRAD spectrometer detected gamma-ray lines with fluxes of 0.002/sq cm sec from SN 1987A in a radiation background approximately a factor of 4 more intense than that over Alice Springs, Australia. This level of sensitivity indicates that BGO is at least as effective as CsI when used as active shielding. Isomerism is common, both in the bismuth and germanium regions of the nuclear chart, but is found to be less of a problem for background suppression in the latter region than in the former.
Rester, A. C.↗
Gamma-ray observations of SN 1987A from Antarctica
Gamma-ray lines from the dirction of supernova 1987A have been observed with a Ge detector flown on a high-altitude balloon platform over Antarctica in January 1988. Gamma rays at 844.1 + or - 1.0 and 1239.9 + or - 1.5 keV, with fluxes 0.0023 + or - 0.002 and 0.0021 + or - 0.001 photons/sq cm sec, respectively, are attributed to the radioactive decay of Co-56. Errors quoted do not include possible systematic effects.
Rester, A. C.↗
The GRAD high-altitude balloon flight over Antarctica
The Gamma Ray Advanced Detector (GRAD) consists of a n-type germanium detector inside an active bismuth-germanate Compton and charged particle shield with additional active plastic shielding across the aperture. It will be flown on a high-altitude balloon at 36 km altitude at a latitude of 78 deg S over Antarctica for observations of gamma radiation emitted by the radioactive decay of Co-56 in the supernova SN1987A, for assessment of the performance of bismuth-germanate scintillation material in the radiation environment of near space, for gathering information on the gamma-ray background over Antarctica, and for testing fault-tolerant software.
Eichhorn, G.↗