EXCITE 2024: Infrared Detector and Spectrometer

The EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) infrared detector, shown here, is a flight candidate from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRSpec (Near InfraRed Spectrograph) instrument. Engineers mounted it to a copper base ahead of installing into to the mission’s spectrometer assembly. The detector allows EXCITE to collect spectroscopic measurements from 1 to 4 microns — the near-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: EXCITE’s infrared detector on a lab bench

Image description: A blue-gloved hand rests on a tabletop. One finger is placed on the copper base of an infrared detector. The detector is a purple square set within two silver triangles. A rectangular brown circuit board runs along the top. In the background are yellow- and red-handled screwdrivers and a black-and-white fan, all out of focus.

Peter Nagler, EXCITE’s principal investigator, carefully screws the mission’s detector into place in a cleanroom at NASA Goddard. Engineer Nat DeNigris assists.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: Two people work on EXCITE’s detector.

Image description: Two people sit around a blue-topped table. They both wear white clean suits and blue gloves. The man on the left is in profile, the other person is seen from behind. The man leans over a small, reflective purple square. The square is set within two silver-colored triangles mounted on a copper base. He is using a small screwdriver to attach something to the purple square.

Nagler and DeNigris attach EXCITE’s infrared detector to its support structure.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: Two people work on EXCITE’s detector.

Image description: Two people in white clean suits and blue gloves are seated at a blue-topped table in a lab. They face each other, leaning over the table and resting their hands on the surface. Between them is a reflective purple square resting on a copper base. It’s held up on either side by silver triangles. The person on the left holds a bracket attached to the purple square. The person on the right holds a wrench and is attaching one of the silver triangles to the side of the purple square.

Nagler and DeNigris adjust the position of EXCITE’s infrared detector.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: Two people work on EXCITE’s detector.

Image description: Two people in white clean suits and blue gloves sit at a blue-topped table in a lab. The man in the background uses one hand to adjust a reflective purple square held upright on a copper base by two silver-colored triangles. Screwdrivers and bags are strewn across the rest of the table. The engineer in the foreground is out of focus and seen from behind.

Nagler tightens a screw on the framework holding EXCITE’s detector.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: A man works on EXCITE’s detector.

Image description: A man in a white clean suit and blue gloves sits at a table in a lab. He rests one hand on the table, holding the copper base of an infrared detector. The detector is a reflective purple square held vertically by a silver bracket. The man uses a small screw driver on the top of the detector.

Nagler carefully lowers a cover over the detector.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: A man works on EXCITE’s detector in a lab.

Image description: Two people in white clean suits and blue gloves sit at a blue-topped table in a lab. On the left, a man lowers a black box over a reflective purple square on a copper base. The second person sits on the right, mostly out of frame. Screwdrivers and plastic bags are scattered across the rest of the table.

EXCITE’s detector is protected by a black metal case. The two filters at the front — the team calls them “goggles” — allow infrared light from the spectrometer to reach the detector inside.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: The EXCITE detector’s protective cover

Image description: A black box rests on a blue-topped table. On one side are two knobs with lenses. They look like a pair of eyes or goggles. The box has a copper base. Behind it, out of focus, are plastic bags and wires.

EXCITE’s spectrometer, shown here, bounces incoming infrared light off several mirrors and through a prism into the detector. The prism splits the light into two channels, each of which goes through one eye of the “goggles” on the detector cover.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: EXCITE’s spectrometer rests on a lab bench.

Image description: EXCITE’s spectrometer rests on top of a shiny silver base in a lab. The spectrometer is a black circle with several black vertical pieces set at different angles. The spectrometer has copper brackets around the edge attaching it to the silver base. There’s one square copper platform set inside the black circle. In the background, it’s clear that the spectrometer is sitting on a blue-topped table. A pair of blue-gloved hands rests on the table.

Nagler shows off the detector inside its black housing before installing it into the spectrometer assembly.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: A man holds a small black box.

Image description: A man in a white clean suit and blue gloves holds a small black box in front of his body. The box has copper plates on the top and bottom and fits in one of his hands. The side of the box facing the camera has two knobs with lenses that look like a pair of goggles. A red wire attaches the box to a connector. A black spiral cord dangles from the hand holding the connector. To the left of the man is a circular silver base holding a black and copper device.

Nagler installs EXCITE’s infrared detector into the mission’s spectrometer.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: A man lowers a small box onto a black and copper plate.

Image description: A man on the right side of the image uses one hand to lower a black box with copper top and bottom plates onto a black and coper circle. The circle has several vertical black pieces, like dominoes. The man is wearing a white clean suit and blue gloves. The arm lowering the box is extended across his body, between him and the camera, obscuring the lower portion of his face.

Nagler adjusts the detector’s position in the EXCITE spectrometer.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: A man in a lab works on a piece of equipment.

Image description: A man in a white clean suit and blue gloves stands in a lab. He uses one hand to adjust a box on a black and copper device made up of a circular base and several vertical domino-like pieces. The device rests on a silver cylinder on top of a larger assembly of blue and silver circles and cylinders.