The Spectroscopic Ultraviolet Multi-object Observatory (SUMO) mission concept

We present the design of the Spectroscopic Ultraviolet Multi-object Observatory (SUMO), a small satellite mission concept for astrophysics research. SUMO's science instrument is a multi-object spectrograph based on a customized digital micromirror device (DMD). Like previous DMD-based spectrographs, SUMO employs parallel imaging and spectroscopic channels. The imaging channel operates in the NUV range and covers a field of view of 2.5 square degrees, with a spatial resolution of 5 arcseconds. The spectrograph channel is designed to achieve a resolving power of R similar to 2500; its spectral range may be tuned across the 1000 - 3000 angstrom range, by choice of mirror coatings and detector photocathode. Recent advances in satellite bus technology and a wave of successful NASA-funded technology development programs allow SUMO to achieve an effective area comparable to much larger missions of the past.