Astrophysics Branch SSA Overview Jesse Bregman presenting Infrared

Astrophysics Branch (SSA) Overview Jesse Bregman presenting Infrared image of PAH emission (blue) in the Eagle Nebula

Astrophysics Branch Mission z Laboratory Research in Astrochemistry and Cosmochemistry y Photo-chemical synthesis of organic material in simulated ISM and solar system conditions y UV/Vis and IR spectral analysis and application to astronomical spectra z Observational Astronomical Research in Astrobiology and Origins y Organic material in the Solar System and Interstellar medium y Astrophysics of Stars, Protostars, Stellar Winds, and Circumstellar Disks y Expertise in IR observations and instruments z Development and Support of NASA Missions y “Home” of Kuiper Airborne Observatory, SOFIA, and Spitzer y Development and contributions to current and new Missions x KEPLER, JWST, SOFIA, Spitzer, STARDUST, ABE, ASPIRE y SOFIA and space flight instrumentation development

Laboratory Astrochemisty z IR Astrochemistry Lab: y y CS Scientists: Lou Allamandola, Doug Hudgins, Scott Sandford, Max Bernstein CS Support: Robert Walker NRC Scientists: Andrew Mattioda, Els Peeters Research areas: reaction products from irradiation of astrophysical ice analogs, chemistry and spectra of PAH molecules. z UV-Vis Astrochemistry Lab y y CS Scientists: Farid Salama CS Support: Robert Walker NRC Scientists: Jan Cami, Xiaofeng Tan Research areas: Cold gas jet and cavity ringdown spectrometer for study of UV -Vis spectra of large carbon bearing molecular ions for comparison with the diffuse interstellar bands.

Observational Astronomy z Mining large astronomical data bases: y PAH identification (Bregman and Temi) y Structure of the Universe--clustering (Way) z Spitzer y Brown Dwarfs, planetary nebulae (Roellig) y Kuiper belt objects (Cruikshank) y Dust in elliptical galaxies (Temi, Bregman) z Origins of binary stars (Greene) z Planetary Detection: y KEPLER (Koch) y Small telescope transit search (Castellano) z Density variations in planetary nebulae (Rubin) z Planetary studies (Cruikshank)

Astronomical Instrumentation z HAWC (High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera) y SOFIA first light instrument, U. of Chicago y Instrument Scientist: Jessie Dotson

Mission Activities (1) z SOFIA: y NASA Project Scientist: Tom Greene y NASA Facility Scientist: Ed Erickson y ASSIST (specific projects to help SOFIA): Mike Haas, Sean Colgan, Dave Goorvitch, Jessie Dotson z Spitzer: y NASA Facility Scientist and IRS Instrument Deputy PI: Tom Roellig y Interdisciplinary Scientist: Dale Cruikshank z JWST: y Mid-infrared instrument team: Tom Greene y Near-infrared instrument team: Tom Greene, Tom Roellig y Mid-IR detector testing: Kim Ennico z KEPLER: y Co-I: Dave Koch

Mission Activities (2) z Astrobiology Explorer & ASPIRE: y PI: Scott Sandford y Co. Is: Jesse Bregman, Tom Greene, Doug Hudgins, Lou Allamandola, Tom Roellig, Kim Ennico z Stardust: y Co-I: Scott Sandford z Cassini/VIMS y Co-I: Dale Cruikshank