Using ISS Telescopes for Electromagnetic Follow-up of Gravitational Wave Detections of NS-NS and NS-BH Mergers

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of using ISS-based telescopes like OpTIIX and ISS-Lobster for rapid electromagnetic follow-up of gravitational wave detections from neutron star and black hole mergers, enabling valuable multi-messenger astronomy.

Contribution

It proposes utilizing ISS-mounted telescopes for quick electromagnetic follow-up of gravitational wave events, highlighting two specific telescope concepts and their scientific potential.

Findings

Electromagnetic follow-up rates of several per year are feasible.

ISS telescopes can rapidly target gravitational wave sources.

Complementary science on black hole and neutron star mergers is enhanced.

Abstract

The International Space Station offers a unique platform for rapid and inexpensive deployment of space telescopes. A scientific opportunity of great potential later this decade is the use of telescopes for the electromagnetic follow-up of ground-based gravitational wave detections of neutron star and black hole mergers. We describe this possibility for OpTIIX, an ISS technology demonstration of a 1.5 m diffraction limited optical telescope assembled in space, and ISS-Lobster, a wide-field imaging X-ray telescope now under study as a potential NASA mission. Both telescopes will be mounted on pointing platforms, allowing rapid positioning to the source of a gravitational wave event. Electromagnetic follow-up rates of several per year appear likely, offering a wealth of complementary science on the mergers of black holes and neutron stars.