WUSAT-SOLSPEC REXUS 17 EXPERIMENT: MEASURING ATMOSPHERIC QUANTITIES OF OXYGEN AND SODIUM

摘要

The WUSAT-SOLSPEC experiment was a proof of concept of a novel approach for analysing the characteristics of an atmosphere with regard to its habitability. Once validated the system could be used in the search for extra-terrestrial life by providing details of the compositions of exoplanet atmospheres. The experiment comprised a free falling unit based on CubeSat specifications that measured the wavelengths of light absorbed by Na and O_2 in the atmosphere via solar spectroscopy. Using a wireless communication system, this data was sent to a ground station for analysis. As the free falling unit was unrecoverable, all of the data was transferred through the communication link. The wireless communication link was successfully established and this was the first time such a link has been demonstrated on a REXUS mission. Data was received for 71 seconds after ejection. The solar spectroscopy instrument was unable to clearly distinguish the subtle trends in Na and O_2 with altitude due to light intensity variation. Light leakage within the optical system is the probable cause of the significant influence of light intensity variation in the results. Hence, further development is required to fully demonstrate the capabilities of solar spectroscopy for the analysis of an atmosphere from a free falling unit, however the experiment successfully illustrated the operation of all required subsystems and the principle of the optical measurement system.