Status of the ESA L1 mission candidate ATHENA

N. Rando; D. Martin; D. Lumb; P. Verhoeve; T. Oosterbroek; M. Bavdaz; S. Fransen; M. Linder; R. Peyrou-Lauga; T. Voirin; M. Braghin; S. Mangunsong; M. van Pelt; E. Wille

doi:10.1117/12.924820

25 September 2012 Status of the ESA L1 mission candidate ATHENA

N. Rando, D. Martin, D. Lumb, P. Verhoeve, T. Oosterbroek, M. Bavdaz, S. Fransen, M. Linder, R. Peyrou-Lauga, T. Voirin, M. Braghin, S. Mangunsong, M. van Pelt, E. Wille

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8443, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 844328 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924820
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

ATHENA (Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics) was an L class mission candidate within the science programme Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 of the European Space Agency, with a planned launch by 2022. ATHENA was conceived as an ESA-led project, open to the possibility of focused contributions from JAXA and NASA. By allowing astrophysical observations between 100 eV and 10 keV, it would represent the new generation X-ray observatory, following the XMM-Newton, Astro-H and Chandra heritage. The main scientific objectives of ATHENA include the study of large scale structures, the evolution of black holes, strong gravity effects, neutron star structure as well as investigations into dark matter. The ATHENA mission concept would be based on focal length of 12m achieved via a rigid metering tube and a twoaperture, x-ray telescope. Two identical x-ray mirrors would illuminate fixed focal plane instruments: a cryogenic imaging spectrometer (XMS) and a wide field imager (WFI). The S/C is designed to be fully compatible with Ariane 5 ECA. The observatory would operate at SE-L2, with a nominal lifetime of 5 yr. This paper provides a summary of the reformulation activities, completed in December 2011. An overview of the spacecraft design and of the payload is provided, including both telescope and instruments. Following the ESA Science Programme Committee decision on the L1 mission in May 2012, ATHENA was not selected to enter Definition Phase.

Citation Download Citation

N. Rando, D. Martin, D. Lumb, P. Verhoeve, T. Oosterbroek, M. Bavdaz, S. Fransen, M. Linder, R. Peyrou-Lauga, T. Voirin, M. Braghin, S. Mangunsong, M. van Pelt, and E. Wille "Status of the ESA L1 mission candidate ATHENA", Proc. SPIE 8443, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 844328 (25 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924820

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available