International X-ray Observatory
The International X-ray Observatory (IXO) is a cancelled X-ray telescope that was to be launched in 2021 as a joint effort by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). In May 2008, ESA and NASA established a coordination group involving all three agencies, with the intent of exploring a joint mission merging the ongoing XEUS and Constellation-X Observatory (Con-X) projects. This proposed the start of a joint study for IXO. NASA was forced to cancel the observatory due to budget constraints in fiscal year 2012. ESA however decided to reboot the mission on its own developing Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics as a part of Cosmic Vision program.
International X-ray Observatory | |
| Names | IXO |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Space telescope |
| Operator | NASA / ESA / JAXA |
| Website | https://ixo.gsfc.nasa.gov/ |
| Mission duration | 5 years (planned) 10 years (possible) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Launch mass | 4,375 kg (9,645 lb) |
| Power | 3.7 kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2021 (cancelled) |
| Rocket | Atlas V or Ariane V |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral or Centre Spatial Guyanais |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance or Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | L2 point |
| Regime | 800 km |
| Main telescope | |
| Type | X-ray |
| Focal length | 20 metres |
| Instruments | |
| Hard X-ray Imager (HXI) High Timing Resolution Spectrometer (HTRS) X-ray Grating Spectrometer (XGS) X-ray Microcalomiter Spectrometer (XMS) X-ray Polarimeter (XPOL) | |
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