2023 SCI-S TRAINEES

    Benedetta Kalemi
    Technische Hochschule Ulm (THU)Sapienza University of Rome  

    CUBIQU project: a CubeSat as a calibrator for CMB polarization experiments
    Tutors: Xavier Dupac, Julio Gallegos Alvarado, Marcos López Caniego Alcarria

    The CUBIQU project's objective is to calibrate the telescope for the QUIJOTE experiment using a CubeSat as a calibrator. QUIJOTE, based in Tenerife, focuses on measuring the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Calibrating using a CubeSat requires precise knowledge of its position and attitude while in orbit. This is achieved through the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS). For this CubeSat, we plan to use reaction wheels and magnetorquers. Magnetorquers are electromagnetic actuators that interact with the ambient magnetic field (such as Earth's Geomagnetic field in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)) to control the spacecraft's orientation. To test the magnetorquers we need to simulate the Geomagnetic field experienced in a LEO. For this purpose we designed and optimized a Helmholtz cage capable of nullyfing the magnetic field in the laboratory and then capable of emulating the geomagnetic field in orbit, enabling accurate testing of magnetorquers' functionality. A Helmholtz cage is a set of three perpendicular pairs of coils. Passing current through these coils generates a 3D magnetic field inside the cage. This cage serves as a vital tool for testing the CubeSat's ADCS.

    Carlota Prieto Jiménez
    University Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    DESIGN OF MULTIMEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENTS AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE CESAR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SPACE SCIENCE EXPERIENCES
    Tutors: Sandra Benítez, Beatriz González, Juan Ángel Vaquerizo

    I carried out my traineeship with the CesaR team (Cooperation through Education in Science and Astronomy Research)which is a joint educational programme developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) and INTA-owned company Isdefe. Its objective is to provide students from European secondary schools and universities with hands-on experience in Optical and Radio Astronomy. In addition, CESAR shall contribute with outreach activities to promote Space Science and to stimulate European students' interest in Science and Technology in general and Astronomy in particular. During these months I updated the material of the scientific cases to ensure they were accessible to children of all genders and diverse backgrounds to increase their engagement in Space and STEM as well as created new cases about the new ESA missions that have been launched this year: JUICE and EUCLID. I created new multimedia contents and I also had the chance to support the design and implementation of the CESAR events disemination strategy on the social media. Last but not least, I took part in the organization of a teacher’s congress at ESAC where I had the opportunity to present one of the scientific cases I created.

    Dima Iulia Elisabeta
    Polytechnic University of Timisoara

    ENHANCEMENT OF HILIGT, AN X-RAY ASTRONOMY LIGHT CURVE GENERATOR
    Tutors: Peter Kretschmar, Richard Saxton

    I have contributed to the advancement of HILIGT (HIgh-energy LIght curve GeneraTor), a multi-mission web application designed for retrieving historical light-curves of astronomical objects by utilizing software programming and analyzing data from X-ray space missions. My primary emphasis has centered on integrating missions such as NuSTAR, Chandra and BeppoSAX. Additionally, I have improved my skills in spectral fitting using the XSpec tool to study high-energy sources observed through the HiLIGT platform. Meanwhile, I have started a side project which aims to detect artefacts in the XMM-Newton’s Optical Monitor images using Deep Learning models.