HIRDES – The High-Resolution Double-Echelle Spectrograph for the World Space Observatory Ultraviolet (WSO/UV)

• Published in: Advances in space research Vol. 41; no. 12; pp. 1992 - 1997
• Main Authors: Werner, K., Barnstedt, J., Gringel, W., Kappelmann, N., Becker-Roß, H., Florek, S., Graue, R., Kampf, D., Reutlinger, A., Neumann, C., Shustov, B., Moisheev, A., Skripunov, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2008
• Subjects: Astronomical and space-research instrumentation; Space-based ultraviolet, optical, and infrared telescopes; Visible and ultraviolet spectrometers; Space-based ultraviolet, optical, and infrared telescopes; Astronomical and space-research instrumentation; Visible and ultraviolet spectrometers
• ISSN: 0273-1177; 1879-1948
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2007.11.029

The World Space Observatory Ultraviolet (WSO/UV) is a multi-national project grown out of the needs of the astronomical community to have future access to the UV range. WSO/UV consists of a single UV telescope with a primary mirror of 1.7 m diameter feeding the UV spectrometer and UV imagers. The spectrometer comprises three different spectrographs, two high-resolution echelle spectrographs (the High-Resolution Double-Echelle Spectrograph, HIRDES) and a low-dispersion long-slit instrument. Within HIRDES the 102–310 nm spectral band is split to feed two echelle spectrographs covering the UV range 174–310 nm and the vacuum-UV range 102–176 nm with high spectral resolution ( R > 50,000). The technical concept is based on the heritage of two previous ORFEUS SPAS missions. The phase-B1 development activities are described in this paper considering performance aspects, design drivers, related trade-offs (mechanical concepts, material selection etc.) and a critical functional and environmental test verification approach. The current state of other WSO/UV scientific instruments (imagers) is also described.