Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31786: Keeping an Eye on Cosmic Blasts: The Orbiting High-energy Monitor Alert Network

When distant stars explode or black holes collide, they send out intense bursts of energy known as high-energy cosmic events. The Orbiting High-energy Monitor Alert Network (OHMAN), led by Dr. Keith Gendreau from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and developed in collaboration with RIKEN in Japan, is designed to catch these cosmic fireworks from space.

Installed during Expedition 66, OHMAN is a sophisticated alert system that helps astronomers quickly locate and study high-energy events like gamma-ray bursts and neutron star mergers. These phenomena are extremely energetic and often short-lived, making rapid detection and communication critical.

By placing the monitor on the ISS, researchers gain a constant vantage point above Earth's atmosphere—ideal for capturing high-energy photons that would otherwise be absorbed. Once OHMAN detects an event, it sends an alert to observatories worldwide, enabling scientists to turn their telescopes toward the source almost immediately.

This network enhances global scientific collaboration and has already improved our understanding of the universe’s most violent processes. For students and enthusiasts, it’s like having a cosmic early warning system working around the clock.

OHMAN exemplifies how the ISS serves as a platform not just for human research, but for peering into the deepest corners of space.

Join the Agnirva Space Internship Program

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in astronomy, cosmology, space technology, and climate science through the Agnirva Space Internship Program. Join, complete virtual projects, and earn a digital certificate to showcase your space fluency in interviews, resumes, and beyond.