BLUE-Wave spectrometers will be launched aboard the Atlantis shuttle on mission STS-129 scheduled to launch Nov 12, 2009 to study the performance, stability, and long-term survivability of external components on the International Space Station.

Commander Charlie Hobaugh will lead the STS-129 mission to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Atlantis. The mission will return station crew member Nicole Stott to Earth. STS-129 is slated to be the final space shuttle crew rotation flight to or from the space station. Atlantis will deliver parts to the space station, including a spare gyroscope. The mission will feature three spacewalks.

The newly released StellarNet BLUE-Wave Spectrometers are fiber optic coupled instruments with a wide selection of models for measurements in 190-1150nm wavelength ranges. Each unit contains a USB interface with a snap shot memory to provide instantaneous spectral image from the highly sensitive CCD with options for 2048 or 3648 elements.

Various models provide a choice of grating range and slit resolutions. New and improved electronics with a high speed 16-bit digitizer allows for fast data acquisition and a signal to noise of 1000:1. Up to 8 units can be daisy chained together and are able to run simultaneously. Additionally the new BLUE-Wave spectrometers can be powered directly from your PC USB-2 port. A single strand fiber optic cable or probe assembly delivers input via standard SMA 905 fiber optic connector with a choice of cable lengths. The spectrograph optics are exceptionally robust in a vibration tolerant modular design, with no moving parts.