X-ray Astrophysics Missions & Programs
Current Missions
The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
(RXTE) was launched in 1995 and
features unprecedented time resolution in combination with moderate spectral resolution to explore the variability of X-ray
sources. Time scales from microseconds to months are covered in an instantaneous spectral range from 2 to 250 keV.
The Proportional Counter Array
(PCA) was developed in the EUD.
The
RXTE project scientist is Jean Swank. The RXTE Guest Observer
Facility is in the EUD and the data are archived in the HEASARC.
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The Suzaku (formerly Astro-E2) mission is an international collaboration
Instruments include the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS), the Hard X-ray Detector (HXD), and the
X-Ray Spectrometer
(XRS), an X-ray micro-calorimeter, developed in the EUD. Suzaku's
X-ray Telescopes
(XRT) were built here in our mirror
lab. These telescopes contain about 1400 specially shaped mirrors, nested in about 170 layers. These foils are positioned in the
telescope so they focus X-rays at the XIS and XRS instruments and are deliberately designed for maximum collecting area per weight
while sacrificing spatial resolution. The XRS team is led by Richard Kelley (PI) and the XRT team is led by Peter Serlemisos.
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Other current missions:
XMM-Newton
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Future Missions/Programs
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The
Constellation-X Observatory is a combination of several X-ray
telescopes working in unison to generate the observing power of one giant
telescope. The current design calls for four identical Spectroscopy X-ray
Telescopes (SXTs) and one or two Hard X-ray Telescopes (HXTs) on a single
satellite. With the Observatory, scientists will
investigate black holes, Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, galaxy formation, the evolution of the Universe on the largest scales, the recycling of
matter and energy, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy. The Con-X Project Scientist is Nick White with Deputy Project Scientist Ann
Hornschemeier and the GSFC Mission Scientist Robert Petre.
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Other future missions include the
Beyond Einstein program,
Generation-X: An Ultra High Throughput Early Universe X-ray Imager, and
MAXIM:
Micro-Arcsecond X-ray Imaging Mission (Black Hole Imager)
Past Programs
Ariel V,
ASCA,
the
Broad Band X-ray Telescope (BBXRT),
the
Calorimeter Sounding Rocket,
HEAO-1 (1st High Energy Astrophysics Observatory),
HEAO-2 (Einstein Observatory) (2nd High Energy Astrophysics Observatory),
OSO-8, and
ROSAT.
See the HEASARC's list of missions.
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