MIT’s AXIS Mission Advances in NASA’s Astrophysics Probe Competition

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MIT’s AXIS Mission Advances in NASA’s Astrophysics Probe Competition

The Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) project, led by MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research (MKI), is now a finalist in NASA’s latest Probe Explorers programme. This mission, backed by a collaboration between MKI, the University of Maryland, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, aims to investigate the most profound mysteries of the universe. If approved, AXIS will move forward with a one-year concept study, targeting a potential 2032 launch and a projected $1 billion budget.

Exploring New Frontiers in X-ray Astronomy

With Erin Kara, an MIT astrophysicist and associate professor, as the deputy principal investigator, the

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is set to revolutionise X-ray astronomy. The satellite’s advanced technology will allow it to reveal unseen cosmic event. It will help trace back to the origins of massive ****** holes and intense galactic events. She believes AXIS is poised to answer longstanding questions that shape modern astrophysics.

Groundbreaking Technological Advances

A core component of AXIS’s capabilities is its CCD focal plane, a sophisticated imaging array developed with support from MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Stanford University. With speed 100 times greater than previous instruments, this cutting-edge sensor will capture vast volumes of X-ray data, offering a view of distant, faint objects with unmatched precision. The focal plane will work with AXIS’s mirror to detect the smallest details of the X-ray universe, laying the groundwork for future missions.

Building on a Legacy of Success

The AXIS mission draws on MKI’s expertise in imaging technology which was previously showcased in major missions like the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Eric Miller, leading the camera team, believes this project will significantly advance both scientific and technological progress, marking a new era in astrophysical research. The AXIS mission is poised to make a lasting impact, laying essential foundations for future explorations of the cosmos.

 

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#MITs #AXIS #Mission #Advances #NASAs #Astrophysics #Probe #Competition

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