NASA’s Tiny ‘BurstCube’ Satellite to Probe Short Gamma-Ray Bursts

NASA’s mini satellite, BurstCube, has commenced its voyage to the International Space Station (ISS), a hub for space research, aboard SpaceX’s 30th Commercial Resupply Services mission. The launch took place at 4:55 pm EDT on Thursday (Mar 21) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. BurstCube’s mission focuses on detecting and pinpointing the locations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which are intense explosions from faraway galaxies, ranking among the universe’s most energetic phenomena. The goal is to gain insights into the nature and origins of these bursts.

Once it arrives at the ISS, BurstCube will be prepared for its deployment into space. Jeremy Perkins, the principal investigator for BurstCube at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, highlighted the satellite’s dual purpose: studying these cosmic events and trialing new technologies while offering valuable hands-on experience to budding astronomers and aerospace engineers.

Researchers believe short GRBs are the result of neutron stars merging. These stars draw closer and finally collide, a process driven by the emission of gravitational waves. GRBs are crucial for understanding how heavy elements, such as gold and iodine, are formed. The extreme conditions during a GRB, including intense heat and density, allow for the synthesis of these elements.

BurstCube is equipped with detectors arranged to maximize the detection and location accuracy of gamma-ray bursts, according to Israel Martinez, a research scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Goddard. He notes the limitation of current gamma-ray missions, which can only survey about 70% of the sky at any given time due to the Earth obstructing their view. Adding satellites like BurstCube enhances our ability to observe more bursts, especially those coinciding with gravitational wave events.

The satellite’s primary instrument is capable of detecting gamma rays in the energy range from 50,000 to 1 million electron volts. Julie Cox, a mechanical engineer for BurstCube at Goddard, shared that the team could purchase many components, such as solar panels and other standardized CubeSat parts, off the shelf. This approach allowed them to concentrate on the mission’s innovative elements, like in-house developed components and the instrument itself, showcasing the potential of compact gamma-ray detectors in space exploration.