Test the EXES spectrophotometer on Boeing 747

Scientists at NASA recently introduced a new spectrophotometer called Echelon-Cross-Echelle Spectrograph (EXES) . Mounted on a Boeing 747, EXES has undergone two successful test flights and its mission is to scan the entire sky for infrared frequency light along with the largest ever telescope ever made. created is SOFIA.

Spectrophotometer is an observation device designed to separate light wavelengths with a series of integrated lenses. EXES is the latest universal spectrometer equipped with the most advanced technology available today. The system consists of 1 meter aluminum tube and the inside contains 130 separate lenses carefully arranged. The system is capable of separating light at an accuracy of 1 / 100,000.

EXES is installed on infrared astronomical stratum observation device (SOFIA ). This is a telescope weighing 17 tons, a mirror diameter of 2.5m and called a telescope flying because it is placed on a Boeing 747 and observing the sky through a large door on the fuselage.

Speaking of which, perhaps many of us questioned why why EXES was not designed as a satellite and launched into orbit to observe? The answer here is that EXES weighs 454kg and the cost will be a great challenge to put it on the rocket and launch into space. Therefore, the cheaper and equally effective method is to take EXES onto a plane and perform observations in the Earth's atmosphere.

The Boeing 747 carrying SOFIA flies at a maximum height of 13,176m above the Earth's surface and 99% of our planet's steam is located below the SOFIA's observation space. This is important because part of EXES's work will be to study the formation of stars and planets by observing steam when it flies around a protostar. Such observations will not be possible if EXES is placed on the ground and must see through a layer of thick steam and Earth's atmosphere.

EXES is mounted on the flying SOFIA telescope

"The combination of EXES's high spectral resolution and SOFIA's infrared radiation access from space provides an unprecedented ability to study cosmic objects at impossible wavelengths. EXES on SOFIA will provide data that we cannot obtain from astronomical centers on the ground or in space, including all past observatories, Current and even under construction, "said Pamela Marcum, a scientist at the SOFIA Science Center.

EXES has now begun to make important observations through the first two flights. During the first flight, EXES studied Jupiter's atmosphere, expanding its understanding of how the gas from the interior blends with the chaotic surface of this giant gas planet. During the second flight, EXES learned about the chemical composition of the gas around a star named AFGL 2591.

The first 2 flights were considered to be completely successful when EXES worked very well. However, there will be more flights before EXES is operated at optimal levels at all observations.