Abstract

The lack of radial velocity data in the Hipparcos catalogue was considered a significant deficiency, so when Gaia was conceived, a spectrometer was a core constituent of its payload. The Gaia Radial Velocity Spectrometer faced a number of design challenges, in particular set by the need to balance kinematic and astrophysical capability. We present an overview of the evolution of the instrument to its present form, identifying the competing technical, performance and programmatic factors which have shaped it.

Keywords

PhysicsPayload (computing)SpectrometerRadial velocityKinematicsSet (abstract data type)Core (optical fiber)Aerospace engineeringAstrophysicsAstronomySystems engineeringStarsOpticsClassical mechanicsComputer science

Affiliated Institutions

Related Publications

<i>Gaia</i>Data Release 2

M. Cropper , D. Katz , P. Sartoretti +66 more

This paper presents the specification, design, and development of the Radial Velocity Spectrometer (RVS) on the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission. Starting with the rationale...

2018 Astronomy and Astrophysics 215 citations

<i>Gaia</i> Data Release 3

A. Vallenari , A. G. A. Brown , T. Prusti +97 more

Context. We present the third data release of the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission, Gaia DR3. This release includes a large variety of new data products, notably a much expa...

2022 Astronomy and Astrophysics 2981 citations

Publication Info

Year
2010
Type
article
Volume
45
Pages
181-188
Citations
11
Access
Closed

External Links

View on DOI.org

Social Impact

Altmetric
PlumX Metrics

Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions

Citation Metrics

11
OpenAlex

Cite This

M. Cropper, D. Katz (2010). The Gaia spectroscopic instrument (RVS): a technical challenge. EAS Publications Series , 45 , 181-188. https://doi.org/10.1051/eas/1045031

Identifiers

DOI
10.1051/eas/1045031