MoonBEAM (Moon Burst Energetics All-sky Monitor)
Gamma-ray bursts are very energetic bursts of radiation from a star collapse or a merger of two compact objects such as a black hole and a neutron star. These events have been seen approximately once a day and are distributed all over the sky. MoonBEAM, a cubeSAT concept of gamma-ray detectors in lunar orbit, can improve location precision for gamma-ray bursts by utilizing the 1.3 seconds light travel time difference between lunar and Earth orbit. The development of Silicon Photomultiplier detector technology has allowed for reduction in mass and volume, making future gamma-ray detectors more suitable for cubeSAT mission.
C. Michelle Hui