The stratospheric THz observatory (STO): Preparations for science flight

C. Walker, C. Kulesa, J. Kloosterman, T. Cottam, C. Groppi, P. Bernasconi, H. Eaton, N. Rolander, B. Carkhuff, S. Hechtman, J. Gottlieb, D. Neufeld, C. Lisse, A. Stark, D. Hollenbach, J. Kawamura, P. Goldsmith, W. Langer, H. Yorke, J. SterneA. Skalare, I. Mehdi, S. Weinreb, J. Kooi, J. Stutzski, U. Graf, C. Honingh, P. Puetz, C. Martin, D. Lesser, Mark Wolfire

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

The Stratospheric TeraHertz Observatory (STO) is a NASA funded, Long Duration Balloon (LDB) experiment designed to address a key problem in modern astrophysics: understanding the Life Cycle of the Interstellar Medium (ISM). STO will survey a section of the Galactic plane in the dominant interstellar cooling line [C II] (1.9 THz) and the important star formation tracer [N II] (1.46 THz) at ~1 arc minute angular resolution, sufficient to spatially resolve atomic, ionic and molecular clouds at 10 kpc. The science flight instrument package hosts four [CII] and four [NII] HEB receivers. There is also one 492 GHz Schottky receiver for observing the [CI] line. In this paper we discuss preparations for the scheduled Antarctic science flight in December 2011.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages159-161
Number of pages3
StatePublished - 2011
Event22nd International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology 2011, ISSTT 2011 - Tucson, AZ, United States
Duration: Apr 25 2011Apr 28 2011

Other

Other22nd International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology 2011, ISSTT 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityTucson, AZ
Period4/25/114/28/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Radiation

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