Names | Aiyinsitan Tanzhen |
---|---|
Mission type | Space observatory |
Operator | CAS, ESA |
COSPAR ID | 2024-007A |
SATCAT no. | 58753 |
Website |
ep |
Mission duration | 3 years (planned) 3 months and 18 days (ongoing) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Einstein Probe |
Bus | Phoenix-Eye-2 |
Manufacturer | CAS |
Launch mass | 1,450 kg (3,200 lb) [1] |
Dimensions | 3 × 3.4 m (9.8 × 11.2 ft) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 9 January 2024, 07:02 UTC [2] |
Rocket | Long March 2C [2] |
Launch site | Xichang LC-3 |
Contractor | CASC |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 581 km |
Apogee altitude | 596 km |
Inclination | 29° |
Period | 96 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] The telescope was launched by a Long March 2C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China, on 9 January 2024, at 07:03 UTC. [6]
The primary science objectives are: [7]
Einstein Probe carries 2 scientific instruments: the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT), and the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT). [8] Both telescopes utilize X-ray focusing optics.
The probe weights 1450 kg and is 3-by-3.4 metres. [4]
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] and an inclination of 29 degrees, giving an orbital period of 96 minutes. [11]
CAS reported that EP "performs as expected in the first month". [12] The probe detected fast X-ray transient EP240315a, [13] and bright X-ray flares EP240305a [14] and EPW20240219aa. [15]
Names | Aiyinsitan Tanzhen |
---|---|
Mission type | Space observatory |
Operator | CAS, ESA |
COSPAR ID | 2024-007A |
SATCAT no. | 58753 |
Website |
ep |
Mission duration | 3 years (planned) 3 months and 18 days (ongoing) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Einstein Probe |
Bus | Phoenix-Eye-2 |
Manufacturer | CAS |
Launch mass | 1,450 kg (3,200 lb) [1] |
Dimensions | 3 × 3.4 m (9.8 × 11.2 ft) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 9 January 2024, 07:02 UTC [2] |
Rocket | Long March 2C [2] |
Launch site | Xichang LC-3 |
Contractor | CASC |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 581 km |
Apogee altitude | 596 km |
Inclination | 29° |
Period | 96 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] The telescope was launched by a Long March 2C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China, on 9 January 2024, at 07:03 UTC. [6]
The primary science objectives are: [7]
Einstein Probe carries 2 scientific instruments: the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT), and the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT). [8] Both telescopes utilize X-ray focusing optics.
The probe weights 1450 kg and is 3-by-3.4 metres. [4]
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] and an inclination of 29 degrees, giving an orbital period of 96 minutes. [11]
CAS reported that EP "performs as expected in the first month". [12] The probe detected fast X-ray transient EP240315a, [13] and bright X-ray flares EP240305a [14] and EPW20240219aa. [15]