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== Objectives ==
== Objectives ==
The primary science objectives are<ref>{{lien web|langue=en|url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=19|titre=Science Objectives
The primary science objectives are<ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 January 2024|language=en|publisher=[[Observatoires astronomiques nationaux de l'Académie des sciences de Chine|Observatoires astronomiques nationaux]]|title=Science Objectives
Overview|url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=19|website=Einstein Probe}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator -->.</ref>:
Overview |consulté le=14 janvier 2024|date= |site=Einstein Probe|page=|format=|id=|éditeur=[[Observatoires astronomiques nationaux de l'Académie des sciences de Chine|Observatoires astronomiques nationaux]]|auteur1= }}.</ref>:
# Identify inactive [[black hole]]s to study how matter is precipitated there by detecting the transient events that take the form of X-ray flares;
# Identify inactive [[black hole]]s to study how matter is precipitated there by detecting the transient events that take the form of X-ray flares;
# Detect the electromagnetic counterpart of events triggering gravitational waves such as the [[Neutron star merger|merger of neutron stars]] which will be discovered by the next generation of gravitational wave detectors;
# Detect the electromagnetic counterpart of events triggering gravitational waves such as the [[Neutron star merger|merger of neutron stars]] which will be discovered by the next generation of gravitational wave detectors;

Revision as of 17:42, 14 January 2024

Einstein Probe
File:Einstein Probe spacecraft.jpg
Einstein Probe artist impression
NamesAiyinsitan Tanzhen
Mission typeSpace observatory
OperatorCAS, ESA
COSPAR ID2024-007A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.58753
Websiteep.bao.ac.cn/ep/
Mission duration3 years (planned)
4 months and 8 days (ongoing)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftEinstein Probe
BusPhoenix-Eye-2
ManufacturerCAS
Launch mass1,450 kg (3,200 lb)[1]
Dimensions3 × 3.4 m (9.8 × 11.2 ft)
Start of mission
Launch date9 January 2024, 07:02 UTC[2]
RocketLong March 2C[2]
Launch siteXichang LC-3
ContractorCASC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude581 km
Apogee altitude596 km
Inclination29°
Period96 minutes
Instruments
Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT)
Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT)

Einstein Probe Logo  

The Einstein Probe (EP) is an X-ray space telescope mission by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in partnership with European Space Agency (ESA) and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) dedicated to time-domain high-energy astrophysics.[3][4] The primary goals are "to discover high-energy transients and monitor variable objects".[5]

Objectives

The primary science objectives are[6]:

  1. Identify inactive black holes to study how matter is precipitated there by detecting the transient events that take the form of X-ray flares;
  2. Detect the electromagnetic counterpart of events triggering gravitational waves such as the merger of neutron stars which will be discovered by the next generation of gravitational wave detectors;
  3. Carry out permanent monitoring of the entire sky to detect the various transient phenomena and carry out measurements of known variable X-ray sources.

Instruments

Einstein Probe will carry two instruments: the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT) and the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT).[7]

  • Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT): WXT has a new optics design, called "lobster-eye", that has wider field of view.[4][7] "Lobster-eye" optics was first tested by the Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy (LEIA) mission, launched in 2022.[4][8][9] WXT consists of 12 Lobster-eye optics sensor modules, each weighing 17 kg and an electrical power consumption of just under 13 W. With the peripherals, the entire telescope weighs 251 kg and has a power consumption of 315 W.
  • Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT): FXT has optics adopted from eROSITA, "the mirror module consists of 54 nested Wolter mirrors with a focal length of 1600 mm and an effective area of greater than 300 cm2 at 1.5 keV."[7]

The probe weights 1450 kg and is 3-by-3.4 metres.[4]

Launch

Einstein Probe was launched on 9 January 2024, at 07:03 UTC by a Long March 2C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China, and successfully placed in low Earth orbit at an altitude of 600 km.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Einstein Probe factsheet". ESA. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Einstein Probe lifts off on a mission to monitor the X-ray sky". www.esa.int.
  3. ^ "Einstein Probe in a nutshell". www.esa.int. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Einstein Probe factsheet". www.esa.int. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Einstein Probe Time Domain Astronomical Information Center". ep.bao.ac.cn. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Science Objectives Overview". Einstein Probe. Observatoires astronomiques nationaux. Retrieved 14 January 2024. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 19 (help).
  7. ^ a b c "EinsteinProbe". www.mpe.mpg.de. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Einstein Probe Time Domain Astronomical Information Center". ep.bao.ac.cn. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  9. ^ Jones, Andrew (November 25, 2022). "China tests novel 'lobster eye' X-ray telescope for observing cosmic events". Space.com.

Further reading

  • Yuan, Weimin; Zhang, Chen; Chen, Yong; Ling, Zhixing (2022). "The Einstein Probe Mission". pp. 1–30. arXiv:2209.09763.