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The AstroBiology Explorer (ABE) MIDEX Mission ConceptThe Astrobiology Explorer (ABE) is a MIDEX mission concept under study at NASA's Ames Research Center in collaboration with Ball Aerospace & Technologies, Corp. ABE will conduct IR spectroscopic observations to address important problems in astrobiology, astrochemistry, and astrophysics. The core observational program would make fundamental scientific progress in understanding the distribution, identity, and evolution of ices and organic matter in dense molecular clouds, young forming stellar systems, stellar outflows, the general diffuse ISM, HII regions, Solar System bodies, and external galaxies. The ABE instrument concept includes a 0.6 m aperture Cassegrain telescope and two moderate resolution (R = 2000-3000) spectrographs covering the 2.5-16 micron spectral region. Large format (1024x 1024 pixel or larger) IR detector arrays and bandpass filters will allow each spectrograph to cover an entire octave of spectral range or more per exposure without any moving parts. The telescope will be cooled below 50K by a cryogenic dewar shielded by a sunshade. The detectors will be cooled to approximately 8K. The optimum orbital configuration for achieving the scientific objectives of the ABE mission is a low background, 1 AU Earth driftaway orbit requiring a Delta II launch vehicle. This configuration provides a low thermal background and allows adequate communications bandwidth and good access to the entire sky over the approximate 1-2 year mission lifetime.
Document ID
20020039751
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Ennico, Kimberly
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Sandford, Scott
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Cox, Sylvia
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Ellis, Benton
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Gallagher, Dennis
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Gautier, Nick
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Greene, Thomas
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
McCreight, Craig
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Mills, Gary
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Purcell, William
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
DeVincenzi, Donald L.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 997-24-00
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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