HERMES Pathfinder Mission to Enhance High-Energy Transient Observations

The HERMES (High Energy Rapid Modular Ensemble of Satellites) Pathfinder mission is set to launch six nano-satellites into low-Earth orbit in early 2025. This mission aims to enhance the observation of high-energy transients, particularly Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), by utilizing a constellation of 3U CubeSats equipped with advanced miniaturized instruments. These instruments include a hybrid Silicon Drift Detector and GAGG:Ce scintillator photodetector system, which is sensitive to X-rays and gamma-rays across a broad energy range.

HERMES will work in conjunction with the Australian Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal (SpIRIT) 6U CubeSat, which was launched in December 2023. The mission's design allows for rapid localization of high-energy transients, leveraging a triangulation technique that provides a wide field of view. This capability is expected to significantly contribute to the next generation of gravitational wave experiments.

The scientific case, development, and programmatic status of the HERMES mission have been outlined by the authors, including Y. Evangelista and 70 other contributors. The findings from this mission could lead to advancements in our understanding of cosmic events and the underlying physics of high-energy phenomena. The paper detailing this mission can be cited as follows: Evangelista, Y., Fiore, F., Campana, R., Baroni, G., Ceraudo, F., Della Casa, G., Demenev, E., Dilillo, G., Fiorini, M., Ghirlanda, G., Grassi, M., Guzmán, A., Hedderman, P., and others. "The HERMES (High Energy Rapid Modular Ensemble of Satellites) Pathfinder mission." arXiv:2409.00989.