NEBULA – Xplorer stands for “Netherlands Educational Satellite for Exploration of Binary-Linked Astrophysics – X-ray Observer”. About 400 students will join SRON, 14 Dutch educational institutions and many industrial partners in developing this space mission from start to finish, led by scientists and engineers. The mission has two goals. The scientific goal is to better understand how a black hole captures material from a companion star. The educational goal is for students from Dutch educational institutions to experience first hand how to build a space mission from the ground up. SRON is leading the NEBULA – Xplorer mission, contributing to a new generation of scientists, designers and technicians for Dutch space research.
NEBULA – Xplorer will be a very compact X-ray space telescope, measuring only 110 x 85 x 50 centimetres. It can be made so small by using several cylindrical mirrors that reflect X-rays. The mission has one X-ray instrument on board that can measure how X-rays vary over a long period of time. The space telescope will use existing, commercial X-ray detectors. These will be cooled down to their optimum operating temperature of -35 degrees Celsius.
The students will be supported by SRON in designing, building and testing the camera, electronics and housing. They will also receive coaching from their educational institute and the industrial partners within the project. We develop NEBULA – Xplorer in close cooperation with the Dutch space industry, which provides the technical facilities to produce and test the various components.
Inertial measurement units
Batteries
Solar panels with drive mechanism
Star trackers
Transceivers
GNSS Receiver
Sun sensors
Magnetometers
S-band antennas
Magnetic torquers
On-board computer
Reaction wheels
Seperation plate
X-ray instrument
Many of the brightest objects in the Universe are X-ray binaries. These are combinations of an extremely compact object, such as a black hole or neutron star, and a companion star. Over time, the compact object extracts matter from its companion star. This releases lots of energy through a jet. Scientists do not yet fully understand this process. Especially the nature of the stream of matter right next to the black hole remains a big mystery.
NEBULA-Xplorer will investigate how jets form and how X-ray binaries evolve. It will observe these objects for long periods of time to see how their emission varies on time scales from milliseconds to weeks. This long observation time makes it possible to combine X-ray activity with data from other wavelengths from other telescopes.
NEBULA – Xplorer will be a very compact X-ray space telescope, measuring only 110 x 85 x 50 centimetres. It can be made so small by using several cylindrical mirrors that reflect X-rays. The mission has one X-ray instrument on board that can measure how X-rays vary over a long period of time. The space telescope will use existing, commercial X-ray detectors. These will be cooled down to their optimum operating temperature of -35 degrees Celsius.
The students will be supported by SRON in designing, building and testing the camera, electronics and housing. They will also receive coaching from their educational institute and the industrial partners within the project. We develop NEBULA – Xplorer in close cooperation with the Dutch space industry, which provides the technical facilities to produce and test the various components.
Interested in participating?
For students from Dutch educational institutions, the following assignments are available in the coming year as part of the NEBULA – Xplorer mission:
If you want to participate, please fill out the internship form.
Launching a satellite requires utmost precision. Before NEBULA-Xplorer leaves Earth, we go through four crucial phases to ensure success in space: A Strictly validated design, stresstests and prototyping, intergration and the launching campaign.
Before production and launch, the project passes formal ECSS review stages. The System Requirements Review (SRR) defines and validates system needs. The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) evaluates the current design. Finally, the Critical Design Review (CDR) confirms readiness for manufacturing and verifies that all requirements are met.
Verification and Validation ensures that all systems perform correctly. The Engineering Model (EM) is used for functional testing, while the Proto Flight Model (PFM) undergoes strict qualification tests. Activities include COTS component testing, FPGA prototyping, and alignment of the Optical Bench Assembly to withstand launch conditions.
In the AIT phase, all subsystems are combined into a complete satellite. This includes propulsion and navigation systems such as star trackers. Interface control ensures compatibility between components. The integration of the 15-inch MkII Motorized Lightband connects the satellite securely to the launch vehicle.
At the launch site, final preparations are completed. The propulsion system is fueled with propylene and nitrous oxide. The satellite is mounted on a SpaceX Falcon 9 as a rideshare payload. The Flight Readiness Review (FRR) confirms launch readiness before liftoff and the start of LEOP.
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