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36.370 US GLESENER/UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager (FOXSI) 4
- Mission
- Vehicle
- Launch
- Photos
The FOXSI-4 experiment is part of a planned campaign that includes three solar physics payloads, with launches taking place from Poker Flat Research Range (PFRR), AK. During the launch window in April 2024, solar activity was monitored by scientists using data from the NOAA operated Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). When data from GOES indicated a solar flare is occuring, the payloads were launched to study the event. By analyzing previous solar cycles, scientists estimate that the opportunity of capturing a flare in progress is fairly high during the selected launch window.
The science objective of 36.370 was to develop an instrument that studies hard and soft X-raysusing direct focusing optics, and to advance toward understanding the high-energy aspects of solar flares.
The Principal Investigator is Dr. Glesener//University of Minnesota.
The Black Brant 9 is a two stage sounding rocket with a Terrier first stage and Black Brant second stage. The Black Brant 9 can reach altitudes of about 600 km. Payloads weighing from 400 to 1200 pounds can be flown.
The FOXSI-4 mission was launched from Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska, on April 17,2024.