Abstract
The Nuclear Compton Telescope (NCT) is a balloon-borne soft -ray (0.2-10 MeV) telescope designed to perform wide-field imaging, high-resolution spectroscopy, and novel polarization analysis of astrophysical sources. NCT employs a novel Compton telescope design, utilizing 12 high spectral resolution germanium detectors, with the ability to localize photon interaction in three dimensions. NCT underwent its first science ight from Fort Sumner, NM in Spring 2009, and was partially destroyed during a second launch attempt from Alice Spring, Australia in Spring 2010. We have begun the rebuilding process and are using this as an opportunity to update and optimize various aspects of NCT. The cryostat which houses the 12 germanium detectors is being redesigned so as to accommodate the detectors in a new configuration, which will increase the eective area and improve the on-Axis performance as well as polarization sensitivity of NCT. We will be replacing the liquid nitrogen detector cooling system with a cryocooler system which will allow for long duration ights. Various structural changes to NCT, such as the use of an all new gondola, will aect the physical layout of the electronics and instrument subsystems. We expect to return to ight readiness by Fall 2013, at which point we will recommence science ights. We will discuss science goals for the rebuilt NCT as well as proposed ight campaigns. © 2012 SPIE.