The Athena x-ray optics development and accommodation

International Conference on Space Optics (ICSO), pp. 72

Abstract

The Athena mission, under study and preparation by ESA as its second Large-class science mission, requires the largest X-ray optics ever flown, building on a novel optics technology based on mono crystalline silicon. Referred to as Silicon Pore Optics technology (SPO), the optics is highly modular and benefits from technology spin-in from the semiconductor industry. The telescope aperture of about 2.5 meters is populated by around 700 mirror modules, accurately co-aligned to produce a common focus. The development of the SPO technology is a joint effort by European industrial and research entities, working together to address the challenges to demonstrate the imaging performance, robustness and efficient series production of the Athena optics. A technology development plan was established and is being regularly updated to reflect the latest developments, and is fully funded by the ESA technology development programmes. An industrial consortium was formed to ensure coherence of the individual technology development activities. The SPO technology uses precision machined mirror plates produced using the latest generation top quality 12 inch silicon wafers, which are assembled into rugged stacks. The surfaces of the mirror plates and the integral support structure is such, that no glue is required to join the individual mirror plates. Once accurately aligned with respect to each other, the surfaces of the mirror plates merge in a physical bonding process. The resultant SPO mirror modules are therefore very accurate and stable and can sustain the harsh conditions encountered during launch and are able to tolerate the space environment expected during operations. The accommodation of the Athena telescope is also innovative, relying on a hexapod mechanism to align the optics to the selected detector instruments located in the focal plane. System studies are complemented by dedicated technology development activities to demonstrate the capabilities before the adoption of the Athena mission.

Authors 33

1. Marcos Bavdaz

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

2. Eric Wille

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

3. Mark R. Ayre

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

4. Ivo Ferreira

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

5. Brian Shortt

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

6. Sebastiaan H. J. A. Fransen

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

7. Mark Millinger

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

8. Maximilien J. Collon Aachen Cosine measurement systems

   Cosine (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   Thales Alenia Space Switzerland Ltd , Schaffhauserstrasse 580 , 8052 Zürich , Switzerland

   cosine measurement systems (Netherlands)

9. Giuseppe Vacanti Aachen Cosine measurement systems

   Cosine (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   cosine measurement systems (Netherlands)

10. M. Barrière Aachen Cosine measurement systems

    Cosine (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    cosine measurement systems (Netherlands)

11. Boris Landgraf Aachen Cosine measurement systems

    Cosine (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    cosine measurement systems (Netherlands)

12. Mark Olde Riekerink

    Micronit Microfluidics (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    Micronit B.V. (Netherlands)

13. Jeroen Haneveld

    Micronit Microfluidics (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    Micronit B.V. (Netherlands)

14. Ronald Start

    Micronit Microfluidics (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    Micronit B.V. (Netherlands)

15. Coen van Baren Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

16. Desirée Della Monica Ferreira

    DTU Space

    Affiliation as printed

    DTU Space (Denmark)

17. Sonny Massahi

    DTU Space

    Affiliation as printed

    DTU Space (Denmark)

18. Sara Svendsen

    DTU Space

    Affiliation as printed

    DTU Space (Denmark)

19. Finn E. Christensen

    DTU Space

    Affiliation as printed

    DTU Space (Denmark)

20. Michael K. Krumrey

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

    Affiliation as printed

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (Germany)

21. Evelyn Handick

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

    Affiliation as printed

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (Germany)

22. Vadim Burwitz

    Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (Germany)

23. Miranda J. Bradshaw

    Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (Germany)

24. Giovanni Pareschi

    Brera Astronomical Observatory

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera (Italy)

25. Giuseppe Valsecchi
    Affiliation as printed

    Media Lario S.r.l. (Italy)

26. Dervis Vernani
    Affiliation as printed

    Media Lario S.r.l. (Italy)

27. Geeta Kailla

    European Space Agency · Teledyne e2v (United Kingdom)

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    Teledyne e2v UK Ltd. (United Kingdom)

28. William Mundon

    European Space Agency · Teledyne e2v (United Kingdom)

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    Teledyne e2v UK Ltd. (United Kingdom)

29. Tapio K. Korhonen Aachen Cosine measurement systems

    European Space Agency · Cosine (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    cosine measurement systems (Netherlands)

    Opteon Oy (Finland)

30. Alejandro Sánchez

    ALBA Synchrotron (Spain) · European Space Agency · Micronit Microfluidics (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    Micronit B.V. (Netherlands)

    ALBA Synchrotron (Spain)

31. Dominique Heinis

    ALBA Synchrotron (Spain) · European Space Agency · Micronit Microfluidics (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    Micronit B.V. (Netherlands)

    ALBA Synchrotron (Spain)

32. Massimiliano Tordi Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    European Space Agency · Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

    EIE S.r.l. (Italy)

33. Richard Willingale

    University of Leicester · European Space Agency · DTU Space

    Affiliation as printed

    DTU Space (Denmark)

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    Univ. of Leicester (United Kingdom)