The BT7 Dual-Array Monochromator is the second instrument being developed by The IDG to be used at The NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). It employs a revolutionary new design that severely reduces unwanted scattering to vastly improve the facilities at The NCNR. The BT7 Monochromator will consist of two 8" x 8" double focusing arrays for neutron research, one with pyrolitic graphite and the other using single crystalline copper. The BT7 Monochromator will be installed in Fall 2003 at NCNR and should provide science by early 2004.

IDG Involvement:

• Overall systems design
• Mechanical design
• electrical design
• Control software development
• Testing and integration

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The Multi-Axis Crystal Spectrometer -  Double Focusing Monochromator (MACS-DFM) was invented at The Johns Hopkins University and completely developed and fabricated by The IDG in 2001. The MACS-DFM uses thin flexible aluminum members to support a variable focusing array of pyrolitic graphite crystals. The array is 20" x 20" and will increase neutron flux at the sample by a factor of 10 when compared to current facilities

IDG Involvement:

• Overall systems design
• Mechanical design
• electrical design
• Control software development
• Testing and integration

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FUSE is a NASA supported astronomy mission that was launched on June 24, 1999. Its mission is to explore the Universe using the technique of high-resolution spectroscopy in the far-ultraviolet spectral region.  The Johns Hopkins University has the lead role in developing and now operating the mission, in collaboration with The University of Colorado at Boulder, The University of California at Berkeley, international partners: the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the French Space Agency (CNES), and corporate partners. FUSE is part of NASA's Origins Program under the auspices of NASA's Office of Space Science.

IDG involvement:

• Optical systems engineering
• Optical testing and integration
• Electrical subsystems engineering
• Electrical test and integration
• On-going flight ops support

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The APO Infrared Spectrograph will provide the Apache Point 3.5 meter telescope with zJHK (0.85 to 2.5 microns) spectroscopy of point sources with resolving powers of R=1000 and R=4000 using realistically wide slits.

It is designed for a relatively narrow range of science topics, a restriction that shortens the required features list, improves performance, and reduces delivery time. Although many important projects are outside the scope of this instrument, the number and breadth of available topics is still large and we expect high demand for this instrument.

IDG Involvement:

• Optomechanical design
• Testing and integration

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The Rocket Program at JHU was founded in 1961 by G. Dieke and W. Fastie. Since then, the group has launched over 70 sounding rockets, from Aerobee class rockets to the two stage Terrier-Black Brants. Observed targets include the Earth's aurora, Venus, Jupiter, several comets including Halley and Hale-Bopp, the Io Plasma Torus, a Solar eclipse, several hot star calibrations, and the first Ultraviolet observation of quasar 3C273.

The group specializes in the development of Ultraviolet (UV) instrumentation and observation of targets in the 900-2000 Å  wavelength range. As these wavelengths of light are strongly attenuated by the Earth's atmosphere, these observations can only be made by sounding rockets or orbiting telescopes.

The Rocket Program has also been intimately involved with a number of related NASA programs, including the Apollo 17 Ultraviolet Spectrometer Experiment, the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, and observation programs using the Copernicus and IUE observatories.

IDG Involvement:

• Payload electronics development
• Electronics packaging
• Harness development and fabrication

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The Sloan Digital Sky Survey is the most ambitious astronomical survey project ever undertaken. The survey will map in detail one-quarter of the entire sky, determining the position and absolute brightness of more than 100 million celestial objects. It will also measure the distances to more than a million galaxies and quasars. The IDG, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Astronomers, designed and built the SDSS multi-object spectrographs, which facilitate these distance measurements.

IDG Involvement:

• Optomechanical design of spectrographs
• Fabrication and assembly of spectrographs
• Control electronics design and assembly

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The Independent Detector Testing Laboratory (IDTL) is a collaboration between the Johns Hopkins University Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Space Telescope Science Institute. The laboratory performs characterization of near infrared detector arrays employed in scientific applications such as the James Webb Space telescope (JWST). The IDTL is providing near infrared detector array expertise to the scientific community including the JWST.

The Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute will employ the IDTL in the proposing and implementing of infrared ground - based and space – based astronomical investigations.

IDG Involvement:

• Conceptualization, design, and evaluation of the optical system used to test state of the art near infrared detector arrays.
• specifying and coordinating with vendors in the implementing of IDTL laboratory test equipment including a vacuum cryogenic detector cooling system.

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PRIME will perform a deep survey in the near-infrared band. It will find the youngest Type Ia Supernovae, galaxies, and quasars, and also detect old brown dwarfs. PRIME will spot the earliest galaxy clusters and map the large scale structure of dark matter. The PRIME survey will provide targets for the Next Generation Space Telescope's core programs, as well as for the largest ground based telescopes. Combining PRIME with other surveys will yield the largest three-dimensional skymap and astronomical database ever built!

IDG Involvement

• Phase A Study

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HUT was conceived, designed, and built by astronomers and engineers at JHU to perform astronomical observations in the far-ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, wavelengths of light that are inaccessible to ground-based telescopes.

HUT's primary purpose was to observe wavelengths of light that are too short to be seen with the Hubble Space Telescope, although overlap is provided to allow direct comparison. The telescope has flown twice aboard the space shuttle, once in December 1990 and again in March 1995, as part of a package of instruments called the Astro Observatory. HUT has been used to observe hundreds of objects, ranging from nearby stars and planets to the most distant objects known in the Universe, the quasars.

IDG personnel supported the HUT/Astro missions from the start of hardware build through installation of the telescope at the National Air and Space Museum. HUT flew twice on the Space Shuttle, studying the ultraviolet spectra of astronomical targets.

IDG Contribution

• Detector Fabrication and Testing
• Spectrograph development
• Integration and Test
• Flight Operations

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