Design and Verification of the Electric Control Box of the Low Energy X-ray Telescope onboard the Insight-HXMT

Abstract

Abstract The Low Energy X-ray telescope (LE) is one of main instruments of the Insight-Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT), which is the first Chinese X-ray astronomical satellite. The scientific objectives of LE focus on the scanning and pointed observations of the X-ray sources in the soft X-ray band (0.7–13 keV). LE is constituted of three detector boxes (LEDs) and an electric control box (LEB). The LEB is composed of data handling unit, monitoring unit and power distribution unit, with the functions of data processing, communication, monitor, power supply and distribution. All the functions designed in the LEB were verified during the operation in orbit. To improve the efficiency of astronomical observations and reliability of LE, onboard data processing is designed in the LEB. The results of onboard data processing are immediately transmitted to the ground as important housekeeping data, and it is verified by comparing with the processing results of the data transmitted to the ground. In the six years since launch, the LEB has performed well and operated smoothly, and all expected requirements have been achieved. The LEB has participated in a number of scientific observations, transmitted a large amount of scientific data, and achieved a number of observational results.