Affiliations: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young
University, N283 ESC, Provo, UT 84602, USA. | | Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Brigham Young University, 459 CB, Provo, UT 84602, USA.
Note: [] Current Address: Box 957, APO AP 96558, Johnston Atol.
Note: [] Corresponding author.
Abstract: NASA G-133, also known as the "GoldHelox Project", is a fully
autonomous, soft X-ray, solar telescope designed for use on board the space
shuttle. Conceived, designed and built by students at Brigham Young University,
it will image the sun with a spatial resolution of 2.5 arc-seconds with a
temporal resolution of one second. The instrument will image X-rays with
wavelengths between 171Å and 181Å coming from highly ionized Fe
lines in the sun's corona. Data will consist of several hundred high resolution
photographs that will help in understanding the initial phases of solar flares,
and the relationship between solar flares and the physics of the
coronal-chromospheric transition region. This paper briefly outlines the
project's goals, gives a brief overview of the construction and operation of
the instrument and addresses the unique aspects of running a predominantly
undergraduate research project. It summarizes the lessons learned to date, and
the current project status.
