Noise-free Cryogenic Wavefront Sensing. This project aims to optimise the prototype adaptive optics technology for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) by leveraging past investment in adaptive optics instrumentation and shortwave infrared detector systems. This project expects to generate significant improvements in GMT performance, with ten times greater image resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope and current estimates of >90% sky coverage, compared with ~50% coverage for current technology ....Noise-free Cryogenic Wavefront Sensing. This project aims to optimise the prototype adaptive optics technology for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) by leveraging past investment in adaptive optics instrumentation and shortwave infrared detector systems. This project expects to generate significant improvements in GMT performance, with ten times greater image resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope and current estimates of >90% sky coverage, compared with ~50% coverage for current technology. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of a highly trained workforce and continued international collaboration in the field of high-technology sensor systems. This contribution to the GMT will provide significant benefits—it will change the way we view the Universe.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100111
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
A database for Australian optical astronomy. We will build an astronomy data facility to provide database facilities to analyse data from three major Australian optical astronomy projects, SkyMapper, WiggleZ and GAMA. The facility will provide efficient analysis tools not only for the researchers immediately involved with the projects, but, for the entire national and international astronomical community when the data become public. Long-term maintenance of the facility is vital, so the facilit ....A database for Australian optical astronomy. We will build an astronomy data facility to provide database facilities to analyse data from three major Australian optical astronomy projects, SkyMapper, WiggleZ and GAMA. The facility will provide efficient analysis tools not only for the researchers immediately involved with the projects, but, for the entire national and international astronomical community when the data become public. Long-term maintenance of the facility is vital, so the facility will be standards-compliant and stable to facilitate long-term support. For this reason the facility will be based at the ANU Supercomputer Facility (ANUSF) to leverage substantial expertise in this area and to provide long-term operations support.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100087
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$760,000.00
Summary
Veloce - Australia's Next-Generation Planet Foundry. Veloce - Australia's next-generation planet foundry: This project will deliver to Australian astronomers a high-resolution, ultra-stabilised, red-wavelength-optimised spectrograph capable of delivering high-precision doppler velocities for the transiting exoplanet host-stars being discovered now by southern hemisphere transit-planet searches, and for the coming wave of discoveries to be made by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TES ....Veloce - Australia's Next-Generation Planet Foundry. Veloce - Australia's next-generation planet foundry: This project will deliver to Australian astronomers a high-resolution, ultra-stabilised, red-wavelength-optimised spectrograph capable of delivering high-precision doppler velocities for the transiting exoplanet host-stars being discovered now by southern hemisphere transit-planet searches, and for the coming wave of discoveries to be made by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). In addition it will enable a vast suite of new research programs in exoplanetary science and galactic archaeology, as well as providing a sound base of ultra-stable infrastructure enabling future expansion to cover the full optical wavelength range at minimal cost.Read moreRead less
Non-equilibrium reacting shock layers. This project aims is to study the non-equilibrium aerodynamic processes involved in hypervelocity flight. The design of vehicles for high speed flight is critically dependent on modelling the interactions between the flow field and the airframe, and the current lack of understanding is restricting the scope and benefit of viable activities in space. The expected outcomes include the ability to design optimised heat shields and air-frames with minimum mass a ....Non-equilibrium reacting shock layers. This project aims is to study the non-equilibrium aerodynamic processes involved in hypervelocity flight. The design of vehicles for high speed flight is critically dependent on modelling the interactions between the flow field and the airframe, and the current lack of understanding is restricting the scope and benefit of viable activities in space. The expected outcomes include the ability to design optimised heat shields and air-frames with minimum mass and maximum payload, precisely targeting specific flight conditions and vehicle shapes. The prospective benefits include increased productivity and reliability and reduced cost of missions to and from space, and a proliferation of new applications which this understanding will facilitate.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100001
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$800,000.00
Summary
MINERVA-Australis: A dedicated southern hemisphere exoplanet observatory. A dedicated southern hemisphere exoplanet observatory:
This project aims to build MINERVA-Australia: a Southern Hemisphere multi-telescope array ideally suited to the critical follow-up of extrasolar planets to be discovered by next-generation space missions. The next decade will see a wealth of new planet discoveries from next-generation space missions. But there is a severe shortage of ground-based instruments with the ....MINERVA-Australis: A dedicated southern hemisphere exoplanet observatory. A dedicated southern hemisphere exoplanet observatory:
This project aims to build MINERVA-Australia: a Southern Hemisphere multi-telescope array ideally suited to the critical follow-up of extrasolar planets to be discovered by next-generation space missions. The next decade will see a wealth of new planet discoveries from next-generation space missions. But there is a severe shortage of ground-based instruments with the precision needed to follow up those discoveries. Understanding the detailed properties of these planets requires dedicated observational facilities. This robotic observatory expands the MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA) and is designed to rapidly deliver high-precision data characterising low-mass planets orbiting bright stars. This innovative facility may give Australian exoplanetary scientists a world-leading role in this exciting new research.Read moreRead less
Ablative thermal protection systems. The project will study ablative reentry heat shields by experiments simulating hypervelocity atmospheric flight. The results will enable the design of the advanced spacecraft which are needed to extend mans exploration of the universe. Data will be validated by comparison with flights such as the Japanese Hayabusa asteroid sample return mission.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100165
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$792,859.00
Summary
Veloce Verde+Azzuro - Tripling the Power of Australia's Planet Foundry. This project aims to better understand humanity’s place in the Universe, including questions such as whether we are alone or if our home in the Solar System is unique or common. This project will enable new observations using a revolutionary Australian facility, Veloce Verde+Azzuro. Moving beyond discovering habitable planets around dim red stars, it will enable science on the properties and system architectures of planets o ....Veloce Verde+Azzuro - Tripling the Power of Australia's Planet Foundry. This project aims to better understand humanity’s place in the Universe, including questions such as whether we are alone or if our home in the Solar System is unique or common. This project will enable new observations using a revolutionary Australian facility, Veloce Verde+Azzuro. Moving beyond discovering habitable planets around dim red stars, it will enable science on the properties and system architectures of planets orbiting stars like the Sun. It will deliver a ten-fold increase in collecting power for Sun-like stars, providing understanding of how exoplanetary systems, and our Solar System, were formed.Read moreRead less