Japan recently launched two ambitious missions last week. One was the XRISM telescope, which promised a new peek of the cosmos.
What To Expect From JAXA's XRISM
The X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), pronounced as "crism," which was launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Sept. 6, will detect X-ray wavelengths with unprecedented precision to peer into the centers of galaxy clusters, reveal the functioning of black holes and supernovae, as well as to inform us about the elemental composition of the universe.
The XRISM satellite is a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and NASA.
Unlike current X-ray telescopes, XRISM can discern between various colors of X-ray radiation, providing scientists with a wealth of new data. It is equipped with a novel device to find X-rays by detecting minute temperature changes.
XRISM will be able to determine which chemical elements, such as silicon, iron, nickel, or oxygen, are abundant in the thing it is examining. Additionally, it will be able to read the speeds of gas motions.
They will have a completely new perspective on the hot, active cosmos thanks to XRISM, according to University of Chicago astrophysicist Irina Zhuravleva, who is also a NASA contributing scientist on the project and the team's chair for the diffuse extragalactic science team. She added that the most exciting part of the project will be the unexpected findings that often come along with new missions. They will watch star explosions, interactions of black holes with their host galaxies, and violent mergers of galaxy clusters in unprecedented detail.
Researchers at the University of Chicago will examine the initial observations of numerous huge galaxy clusters and galaxy groupings. Supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxy clusters are the subject of a significant debate. These black holes are known to emit energy into their surroundings, which controls the rate of star formation. However, exactly how they communicate with the host galaxies is still unclear.
Zhuravleva, also the Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, noted that up until now, they had only looked at "static" imaging data to study the physics of these interactions. They will use XRISM to detect the speeds of gas motions caused by supermassive black holes and investigate the mixing of various gases and metals.
More About Japan's Other Mission
Aside from XRISM, Japan also launched SLIM ("Smart Lander for Investigating Moon"), a small spacecraft that only measures 7.9 feet (2.4 meters) in height, 8.8 feet (2.7 meters) in length, and 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) in width. It weighs around 1,540 pounds (700 kilograms) at liftoff, with the propellant taking about 70% of its mass.
SLIM will enter lunar orbit in three to four months after traveling a long, looping, and fuel-efficient course. After another month of monitoring, it will attempt to settle inside Shioli Crater, a 1,000-foot-wide (300-meter) impact basin on the moon's near side situated at 13 degrees south latitude.
The probe, which intends to land within 330 feet (100 m) of a particular point inside Shioli Crater, makes a more precise landing attempt than earlier lunar landers. The goal is to demonstrate pinpoint-landing technology, enabling more thorough research of the moon and other celestial bodies.
JAXA officials claim that the SLIM lander will allow humans to make a qualitative leap toward being able to land anywhere they choose instead of just where it is possible. Doing this will make it possible to land on planets with even less resource availability than the moon.
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