Calibration measurements for the BlackCAT CubeSat x-ray coded aperture telescope

Timothy R. Emeigh; Abraham D. Falcone; Joseph M. Colosimo; Mitchell Wages; Lukas R. Stone; Kadri M. Nizam; David M. Palmer; Zachary Catlin; Md Arman Hossen; William A. Bevidas; Dennis Hartmann; Laurel O'Neill; Ian Ashcroft; Michael Betts; Brynn Bortree; David N. Burrows; Sierra Deppe; Thomas Forstmeier; Derek B. Fox; Killian M. Gremling; Abigail A. Raytsis; Daniel Washington; Michael E. Zugger

doi:10.1117/12.3065260

Calibration measurements for the BlackCAT CubeSat x-ray coded aperture telescope

Timothy R. Emeigh
, Abraham D. Falcone
, Joseph M. Colosimo
, Mitchell Wages
, Lukas R. Stone
, Kadri M. Nizam
, David M. Palmer
, Zachary Catlin
, Md Arman Hossen
, William A. Bevidas
, Dennis Hartmann
, Laurel O'Neill
, Ian Ashcroft
, Michael Betts
, Brynn Bortree
, David N. Burrows
, Sierra Deppe
, Thomas Forstmeier
, Derek B. Fox
, Killian M. Gremling

Abigail A. Raytsis, Daniel Washington, Michael E. Zugger

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

BlackCAT is a 6U CubeSat mission scheduled for launch near the end of 2025. Designed for X-ray sky monitoring and observations of bright X-ray sources in the 0.5-20 keV band, the instrument will use its wide field of view and arcminute-scale localization to detect high-redshift gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and other X-ray transients. The mission will send rapid alerts of these detections, enabling prompt follow-up from other ground- and space-based observatories. The science instrument is a coded aperture telescope with a gold-plated nickel coded mask and a focal plane of four Speedster-EXD550 event-driven X-ray hybrid CMOS detectors (HCDs). We describe our methodology for the calibration of the detectors and the assembled instrument and the results of these measurements. We also briefly discuss plans for in-flight calibration and commissioning to confirm these values post-launch.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV
Editors	Oswald H. Siegmund, Keri Hoadley
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510691582
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3065260
State	Published - Sep 18 2025
Event	24th UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy - San Diego, United States Duration: Aug 5 2025 → Aug 7 2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	13625
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	24th UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Diego
Period	8/5/25 → 8/7/25

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Instrumentation
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1117/12.3065260

Cite this

Emeigh, T. R., Falcone, A. D., Colosimo, J. M., Wages, M., Stone, L. R., Nizam, K. M., Palmer, D. M., Catlin, Z., Arman Hossen, M., Bevidas, W. A., Hartmann, D., O'Neill, L., Ashcroft, I., Betts, M., Bortree, B., Burrows, D. N., Deppe, S., Forstmeier, T., Fox, D. B., ... Zugger, M. E. (2025). Calibration measurements for the BlackCAT CubeSat x-ray coded aperture telescope. In O. H. Siegmund, & K. Hoadley (Eds.), UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV Article 136251R (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13625). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3065260

@inproceedings{6d4fab08fe7142d7b9b0744962e6f5ad,

title = "Calibration measurements for the BlackCAT CubeSat x-ray coded aperture telescope",

abstract = "BlackCAT is a 6U CubeSat mission scheduled for launch near the end of 2025. Designed for X-ray sky monitoring and observations of bright X-ray sources in the 0.5-20 keV band, the instrument will use its wide field of view and arcminute-scale localization to detect high-redshift gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and other X-ray transients. The mission will send rapid alerts of these detections, enabling prompt follow-up from other ground- and space-based observatories. The science instrument is a coded aperture telescope with a gold-plated nickel coded mask and a focal plane of four Speedster-EXD550 event-driven X-ray hybrid CMOS detectors (HCDs). We describe our methodology for the calibration of the detectors and the assembled instrument and the results of these measurements. We also briefly discuss plans for in-flight calibration and commissioning to confirm these values post-launch.",

author = "Emeigh, \{Timothy R.\} and Falcone, \{Abraham D.\} and Colosimo, \{Joseph M.\} and Mitchell Wages and Stone, \{Lukas R.\} and Nizam, \{Kadri M.\} and Palmer, \{David M.\} and Zachary Catlin and \{Arman Hossen\}, Md and Bevidas, \{William A.\} and Dennis Hartmann and Laurel O'Neill and Ian Ashcroft and Michael Betts and Brynn Bortree and Burrows, \{David N.\} and Sierra Deppe and Thomas Forstmeier and Fox, \{Derek B.\} and Gremling, \{Killian M.\} and Raytsis, \{Abigail A.\} and Daniel Washington and Zugger, \{Michael E.\}",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1117/12.3065260",

language = "English (US)",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Siegmund, \{Oswald H.\} and Keri Hoadley",

booktitle = "UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV",

address = "United States",

}

Emeigh, TR, Falcone, AD, Colosimo, JM, Wages, M, Stone, LR, Nizam, KM, Palmer, DM, Catlin, Z, Arman Hossen, M, Bevidas, WA, Hartmann, D, O'Neill, L, Ashcroft, I, Betts, M, Bortree, B, Burrows, DN, Deppe, S, Forstmeier, T, Fox, DB, Gremling, KM, Raytsis, AA, Washington, D & Zugger, ME 2025, Calibration measurements for the BlackCAT CubeSat x-ray coded aperture telescope. in OH Siegmund & K Hoadley (eds), UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV., 136251R, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 13625, SPIE, 24th UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy, San Diego, United States, 8/5/25. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3065260

Calibration measurements for the BlackCAT CubeSat x-ray coded aperture telescope. / Emeigh, Timothy R.; Falcone, Abraham D.; Colosimo, Joseph M. et al.
UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV. ed. / Oswald H. Siegmund; Keri Hoadley. SPIE, 2025. 136251R (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13625).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Calibration measurements for the BlackCAT CubeSat x-ray coded aperture telescope

AU - Emeigh, Timothy R.

AU - Falcone, Abraham D.

AU - Colosimo, Joseph M.

AU - Wages, Mitchell

AU - Stone, Lukas R.

AU - Nizam, Kadri M.

AU - Palmer, David M.

AU - Catlin, Zachary

AU - Arman Hossen, Md

AU - Bevidas, William A.

AU - Hartmann, Dennis

AU - O'Neill, Laurel

AU - Ashcroft, Ian

AU - Betts, Michael

AU - Bortree, Brynn

AU - Burrows, David N.

AU - Deppe, Sierra

AU - Forstmeier, Thomas

AU - Fox, Derek B.

AU - Gremling, Killian M.

AU - Raytsis, Abigail A.

AU - Washington, Daniel

AU - Zugger, Michael E.

PY - 2025/9/18

Y1 - 2025/9/18

N2 - BlackCAT is a 6U CubeSat mission scheduled for launch near the end of 2025. Designed for X-ray sky monitoring and observations of bright X-ray sources in the 0.5-20 keV band, the instrument will use its wide field of view and arcminute-scale localization to detect high-redshift gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and other X-ray transients. The mission will send rapid alerts of these detections, enabling prompt follow-up from other ground- and space-based observatories. The science instrument is a coded aperture telescope with a gold-plated nickel coded mask and a focal plane of four Speedster-EXD550 event-driven X-ray hybrid CMOS detectors (HCDs). We describe our methodology for the calibration of the detectors and the assembled instrument and the results of these measurements. We also briefly discuss plans for in-flight calibration and commissioning to confirm these values post-launch.

AB - BlackCAT is a 6U CubeSat mission scheduled for launch near the end of 2025. Designed for X-ray sky monitoring and observations of bright X-ray sources in the 0.5-20 keV band, the instrument will use its wide field of view and arcminute-scale localization to detect high-redshift gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and other X-ray transients. The mission will send rapid alerts of these detections, enabling prompt follow-up from other ground- and space-based observatories. The science instrument is a coded aperture telescope with a gold-plated nickel coded mask and a focal plane of four Speedster-EXD550 event-driven X-ray hybrid CMOS detectors (HCDs). We describe our methodology for the calibration of the detectors and the assembled instrument and the results of these measurements. We also briefly discuss plans for in-flight calibration and commissioning to confirm these values post-launch.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024317849

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024317849#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1117/12.3065260

DO - 10.1117/12.3065260

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105024317849

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV

A2 - Siegmund, Oswald H.

A2 - Hoadley, Keri

PB - SPIE

T2 - 24th UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy

Y2 - 5 August 2025 through 7 August 2025

ER -

Emeigh TR, Falcone AD, Colosimo JM, Wages M, Stone LR, Nizam KM et al. Calibration measurements for the BlackCAT CubeSat x-ray coded aperture telescope. In Siegmund OH, Hoadley K, editors, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIV. SPIE. 2025. 136251R. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.3065260

Calibration measurements for the BlackCAT CubeSat x-ray coded aperture telescope

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this