CAPIGX | Capibara Collaboration

Mission Overview

CAPIGX is a student-led mission aiming to monitoring the sky for high energy transient phenomena. Sensitive in the X-ray and Gamma-ray regime, it will consist of a constellation of 3 CubeSats, enabling sub-arcminute source localisation precision. By providing rapid and precise observations of transient phenomena, such as Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) or X-ray flashes, it will be a useful resource for the astrophysical community. It will allow follow-up observations to gravitational event alerts and monitor the sky for other transients, thus aiding the schedule of flagship missions.

Unique Value

Specially unique to this mission is its educational value, since both CAPIGX and the CAPIBARA Collaboration are fully student-led. It fosters collaboration between education and professionals and bridges the gap between school and current research. Furthermore, it creates hands-on experience for young students passionate about fields ranging from electrical and aerospace engineering to computer science and theoretical astrophysics. At the same time, the mission will provide valuable data by continuously monitoring the high energy sky.

Key Innovation

By deploying an array of 3 different CubeSats with a baseline distance, we aim to perform very high precision localisation of burst sources through triangulation and, potentially, intensity interferometry. Building up from technology already developed and tested by the interplanetary network (IPN) and the HERMES mission, our goal is to provide sub-arcminute precision for the next era of gravitational wave observatories in the late 2030s. The issue this setup solves is that gamma-ray and X-ray are impossible to focus with regular optics like telescopes. Triangulation with multiple detectors will allow for accurate host galaxy identification and ground-based telescope follow-up observations at lower wavelengths.

Instruments

To cover the observational gap in the keV to MeV range, we need to combine X-ray and gamma-ray instruments with segmentation at 150 keV.

1-150 keV (X-ray): Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detectors
0.15-1 MeV (hard X-ray/gamma-ray): Cesium Iodide (CsL(TI)) with Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs)

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Related Research Initiatives

The CAPIBARA Collaboration's research projects with CAPIGX mission data results.

Multi-Messenger Cosmology

Combining CAPIGX's GRBs data with GW signals to learn about the origin and future of the Universe.

AGN Cosmic Ray Interaction

Studying the relation between AGN jet dynamics and cosmic rays.

Supernova Remnant Enviroments

Exploring the acceleration of cosmic rays in supernova remnants.

Mission Timeline

2025-2026

Mission Concept Development (MCD) - Planning, study the field and its needs, forecasts for the future, publishing MCD, establishing connections.

2027-2030

Preliminary Design Review - Satellite (constellation) first design, design iteration, industry feedback, application for launch programmes (FlyYourSatellite!), funding campaigns.

2031-2033

Critical Design & Manufacturing - Final design review, building satellites, production of scientific data pipelines and storage archives, satellites testing.

2034

Launch Preparation - Final launch preparation, launch-vehicle integration, preparation of operations.

2035+

Launch & Operations - Lunch, constellation depolyment, commissining phase, science operations start. Expected mission lifetime: 5 years (typical for CubeSats). Despite this mission's lifetime the constellation may be extended with more and/or replacement satellites by CAPIBARA or other initiatives!

Why Does It Matter?

Monitoring high-energy transient phenomena is vital for real-time alerts to the scientific community about gamma-ray bursts, magnetar bursts, AGN, and other rapid events, enabling a fast response and observation. Its unprecedented angular resolution allows precise mapping of gamma-ray sources, enhancing our understanding of the universe. Studying extreme environments near black holes, neutron stars, and active galaxies provides insights into fundamental cosmic processes, advancing our knowledge of the unvierse's msot powerful and mysterious phenomena.

A Mission for Everyone

By making all of our data and code repositories publicly available, we open the door to collaborative discovery. Whether you're a high school student or PhD reseacher, CAPIGX offers a new window into the high-energy Universe As a student-led initiative; we want to show what passionate students are capable of achieving.

An Opportunity to Connect

CAPIGX is actively seeking collaborators, advisors, and supporters who share our passion for high energy astrophysics and aerospace engineering. Whether you'are a student in interested joining the team, a researcher who can provide advice, or an organisation interested in supporting our mission, we'd love to hear from you! We welcome students from all backgrounds, experience levels (even high school), and fields of interest (from physics and engineering to science communication, design, and coding). No prior experience required, just enthusiams and willingness to learn!