Astro-E, X-ray astronomy satellite

Astro-E is to be the fifth Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite, and is scheduled to be launched in early 2000 by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). This satellite will carry three experiments: a micro-calorimeter array OC-ray Spectrometer - XRS) with X-ray mirrors (X-ray Telescope - XRT); four CCD cameras (Xray Imaging Spectrometer - XIS) each with its own XRT; a hard X-ray detector assembly (Hard X-ray Detector - HXD). The former two experiments will cover the soft energy band (0.4 - 10 keV) with high energy resolution (XIS: Delta E similar or equal to 12 eV) or with medium energy resolution (XIS: Delta E similar or equal to 120 eV at 6 keV), both with imaging capability. The latter is a combination of GSO/BGO well-type phoswich counters and silicon PIN diodes, and will cover a wide energy band of 10 - 700 keV. With there three experiments, the Astro-E mission will cover the entire range of soft and hard X-ray at the highest sensitivity and with the highest X-ray energy resolution to date.