Terehertz Intensity Mapper (TIM): Studying Cosmic Star Formation History with a Balloon-Borne Telescope
TIM is an experiment designed to map the universe's star formation throughout history. This balloon-borne telescope is launched above the atmosphere to detect far-infrared waves emitted from atoms and ions in the interstellar medium. The strength of these waves give us clues on how galaxies are formed and how star production has increased and decreased since the Big Bang. My role in this project is to research the elevation motor, which is responsible for controlling the inner frame of TIM which houses the telescope. This highly precise device allows us to point exactly where our telescope should be looking up in space. The next step for TIM researchers is to get in the lab, purchase these sensors, and begin testing them for operability and orientation on TIM itself.
Comments
Great Project!
HI Jesica,
Great project and presentation! As someone not familiar with the subject, your presentation made it easy to understand and follow. Are you planning on testing the elevation motor yourself when you can get back into lab? What would testing that device look like?
Elisa
Motor Metrics
Jess, this is incredibly interesting work! It is awesome that you are trying to find how star production has increased and decreased since the Big Bang.
I was wondering if you could speak a little about what characteristics or metrics are most important when trying to find a motor to put on the balloon?
Motor Metrics
Jess, this is incredibly interesting work! It is awesome that you are trying to find how star production has increased and decreased since the Big Bang.
I was wondering if you could speak a little about what characteristics or metrics are most important when trying to find a motor to put on the balloon?
Hi Jesica, You mentioned…
Hi Jesica,
You mentioned that your team was considering redesigning the gondola design from the previous missions. Why would the gondola need to be redesigned? Were there issues with it originally? How does the gondola design affect the collection of the data?
great job!
Thanks for your hard work this summer!
Hi Jesica! Do you predict to…
Hi Jesica! Do you predict to see similar data with this elevation motor on BLAST vs. on TIM? Do you think the gondola design will make a difference in the data we get from the pointing sensors in comparison to previous balloon-borne experiments?