View source for Astronomy:Constellation-X Observatory


The '''Constellation-X Observatory''' ('''Con-X''' or '''HTXS''') was a mission concept for an [[Physics:X-ray|X-ray]] space observatory to be operated by [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]; in 2008 it was merged with ESA and [[Organization:JAXA|JAXA]] efforts in the same direction to produce the [[Astronomy:International X-ray Observatory|International X-ray Observatory]] project, announced on 24 July 2008.<ref name="Announcement">{{cite web |url=https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/archive/ixo/news/2008/ixo_announcement.html|title=Announcing: The International X-ray Observatory (IXO)|publisher=NASA|date=24 July 2008|access-date=13 March 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The intention of the Con-X project was to provide enough X-ray collecting area to be able to feed a spectroscope of substantially higher resolution than the previous generation ([[Astronomy:XMM-Newton|XMM-Newton]], [[Astronomy:Chandra X-ray Observatory|Chandra X-ray Observatory]] and [[Astronomy:Suzaku (satellite)|Suzaku]]) of space-based X-ray telescopes; this would allow the resolution of individual hot-spots at the event horizon of [[Astronomy:Black hole|black holes]], of warm intergalactic matter (by seeing absorption lines at various [[Astronomy:Redshift|redshifts]] superposed onto the spectra of background [[Astronomy:Quasar|quasars]]) and of dynamics within [[Astronomy:Galaxy cluster|galaxy clusters]].<ref name="Constellation">{{cite web|url=http://constellation.gsfc.nasa.gov/old_conx_pages/documents/resources/presentations/2007/garcia_tucson_1007.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721054023/http://constellation.gsfc.nasa.gov/old_conx_pages/documents/resources/presentations/2007/garcia_tucson_1007.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 July 2011|title=The Constellation X-Ray Mission|date=21 July 2011 |access-date=13 March 2021}}  {{PD-notice}}</ref>

== Technology for Con-X ==
The project intended to have separate low-energy and high-energy X-ray telescopes, to work from 100eV to 40keV spectrum. The collecting area requirements would have been achieved using a segmented-mirror technique based on slumping thin (400 µm) glass sheets onto mandrels, which avoids the handling problems of dealing with whole thin shells. Dispersive optics for the spectrometer were developed, as well as a microcalorimeter-array detector providing energy resolution per pixel of about 5eV.

== The International X-ray Observatory (IXO) ==
In May 2008, ESA and NASA established a coordination group involving [[Organization:European Space Agency|ESA]], [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] and [[Organization:JAXA|JAXA]], with the intent of exploring a joint mission merging the ongoing [[Astronomy:XEUS|XEUS]] and Constellation-X efforts. The coordination group met twice, first in May 2008 at [[Organization:European Space Research and Technology Centre|European Space Research and Technology Centre]] (ESTEC), then in June 2008 at the Center for Astrophysics. As a result of these meetings a joint understanding was reached by the coordination group on a proposal to proceed towards the goal of developing an [[Astronomy:International X-ray Observatory|International X-ray Observatory]] (IXO). The coordination group proposed the start of a joint study of IXO. A single merged set of top level science goals and derived key science measurement requirements were established.<ref name="Announcement"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Space observatories}}

[[Category:Space telescopes]]
[[Category:X-ray telescopes]]
[[Category:Cancelled spacecraft]]

{{Sourceattribution|Constellation-X Observatory}}