(Chinese Academy of Sciences)
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has approved the start of the assembly and testing phase of the Einstein Probe space X-ray observatory, created in cooperation with the ESA.
The probe will go into space next year and look for sources of gravitational bursts and events of tidal destruction of stars by black holes.
The Einstein Probe is a joint project of a number of Chinese institutes and the European Space Agency.
The observatory will solve problems in the field of astrophysics, such as searching for massive black holes by their flares during tidal destruction of stars, localizing sources of gravitational bursts in the electromagnetic range
The mission will survey X-ray transients and sources such as gamma-ray bursts, shock waves in supernovae, X-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei and coronal flares on other stars.
The probe will be equipped with two telescopes operating in the soft X-ray range:
A wide-angle WXT (Wide-field X-ray telescope) with a field of view of 1345 square degrees, and
A tracking telescope FXT (Follow-up X-ray Telescope), which is characterized by high sensitivity.
The WXT features the proven lobster-eye optical system, which provides unparalleled high sensitivity and a large field of view.
The total mass of the device will be 1400 kilograms, it will also be equipped with a communication system and solar panels.
The project was proposed for development in 2013 and approved in 2017 under the second phase of the Strategic Priority Program of the CAS in the field of space research.
On March 25, the National Space Science Center under the CAS approved the start of the assembly and testing phase of the observatory. The ESA is to provide the FXT telescope as well as a ground tracking station.
It is expected that the launch will take place in 2023, the observatory will operate in low Earth orbit with an altitude of 600-650 kilometers and an inclination of less than 30 degrees.
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