The first test the PolarNOx experiment must pass is actually two - the duo of ultraviolent lamps, deuterium and tellurium.

Sowmya Muthurangan adjusts the tellurium lamp.
Sowmya Muthurangan adjusts the tellurium lamp. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

Deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen known as heavy hydrogen, glows a redish pink-purple in its gaseous form. Tellurium is a silver-white metalloid, commonly used in solar panels and thermoelectric devices.

As part of the lamp tests, these elements serve as UV sources for the experiement's spectrograph and telescope.

Sowmya Muthurangan adjusts the dials of the power supply for the experiment hatch.
Sowmya Muthurangan adjusts the dials of the power supply for the experiment hatch. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
Close up interior shot of the experiement with the tellurium lamp
The hatch of the experiment is open to reveal the mock star tracker. The tellurium lamp will be used to ensure the built-in cameras are working after traveling from Virginia. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
Justin Cartsens aligns a lens for the tellurium lamp
Justin Carstens aligns a lens for the tellurium lamp, one of two UV tests conducted. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
Close-up of the deuterium lamp
Close-up of the deuterium lamp used in one of the UV lamp tests. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

The lamps verify the sensitivity of the detector and the spectral resolution of the instruments used to lock onto the star Algenib - the point of reference to ensure experiment can gather the nitric oxide data.

From left: Sowmya Muthurangan and Justin Carstens discuss the PolarNOx experiment in the clean room.
From left: Sowmya Muthurangan and Justin Carstens discuss the PolarNOx experiment in the clean room. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
Photo of the cameras field of vision from inside the experiment payload
A camera built inside the PolarNOx experiment will be used for guiding the rocket's trajectory to lock onto Algenib, a star in the Pegasus constellation. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

The deuterium lamp measures the sensitivity, while the tellurium lamp measures the spectral resolution of the spectrograph. The spectrograph separates and measures wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation; the experiment team will use this device, in combination with the telescope, to locate the star Algenib.

Part of the Pegasus constellation, Algenib serves as "the lightbulb," according to Scott Bailey, by which the experiment can see and record the volume of nitric oxide in the atmosphere.

Justin Carstens holds deuterium lamp for test. The room is dark and all you can see is the purple light.
Justin Carstens holds a deuterium lamp up in the dark clean room for one of the UV light tests. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

Successful lamp tests mean the instruments are working as planned and the team can move forward with the next test: alignment.

Aklima Khatun looks at the UV lamp test results.
Aklima Khatun looks at the UV lamp test results. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
From left: Aklima Khatun, Savannah Church, and Sowmya Muthurangan look at UV test results in the clean room.
From left: Aklima Khatun, Savannah Church, and Sowmya Muthurangan look at UV test results in the clean room. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.