We'll soon get sharper vision on cosmic X

A new satellite called the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) is set to launch on August 25th from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center. Led by JAXA, with collaboration from NASA and the scientific participation of the Canadian and European space agencies, XRISM aims to study large objects in the universe using advanced instruments that can measure the heat of a single X-ray photon.

One of the key instruments on XRISM is called Resolve, which is a spectrometer for X-rays. Resolve’s detector consists of 6-by-6 pixels, each capable of absorbing a singular X-ray photon. This high precision allows Resolve to catalog millions of measurements with ultra-high resolution. To operate effectively, the instrument needs to be chilled to extremely low temperatures near absolute zero, achieved by placing it in a dewar of liquid helium.

Another instrument on XRISM, called Xtend, will complement Resolve by enlarging its field of view. Xtend will enable Resolve to capture images within an area wider than any previous X-ray imaging satellite, covering an area of the sky approximately 60% larger than a full moon.

The mission’s primary goals are to analyze X-rays using the widest field-of-view instrument ever implemented in this type of imaging probe, and to study massive cosmic phenomena such as the internal structures of neutron stars, near-light-speed particle jets powered by black holes in active galaxies, and the effects of extreme gravity on matter.

The X-ray mirror assemblies for both Resolve and Xtend were developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. With the launch of XRISM, scientists anticipate gaining new insights and a clearer understanding of some of the most challenging places to study in the universe.