The NewAthena x-ray optics

Abstract

The NewAthena (New Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics) mission is the next generation X\x-ray observatory of ESA and is currently being studied and technologically prepared for adoption early 2027. NewAthena builds on a novel x-ray optics technology specifically developed for this mission. With a diameter of almost 2.5 meters, and consisting of hundreds of co-aligned mirror modules, made of paper-thin mirrors, NewAthena achieves an angular resolution significantly better than that of the XMM-Newton telescope. The Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) delivers to the challenge the NewAthena x-ray optics poses, benefiting from technology spin-in from the semiconductor industry. The optics is highly modular and is robust by design; its production is largely automatised and cost effective. This paper provides an overview of the ongoing activities readying the SPO technology for the NewAthena mission, from the production of mirror elements, over the assembly into modules, to the accurate integration into the Mirror Assembly Structure of the spacecraft. The performance verification and the preparation of the required production and characterisation facilities is also discussed.

Authors 40

1. Marcos Bavdaz

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

2. Marine Martin-Lagarde

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

3. Sebastiaan H. J. A. Fransen

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

4. Pieter Smid

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

5. Habib Boualam

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

6. Frédéric Safa

   European Space Agency

   Affiliation as printed

   European Space Agency (Netherlands)

7. David A. Girou Aachen Cosine

   Cosine (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   cosine (Netherlands)

8. Yvette Jenkins Aachen Cosine

   Cosine (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   cosine (Netherlands)

9. Giuseppe Vacanti
10. Boris Landgraf Aachen Cosine

    Cosine (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    cosine (Netherlands)

11. Maximilien J. Collon
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. Bart Schurink

    Micronit Microfluidics (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    Micronit B.V. (Netherlands)

16. Desirée Della Monica Ferreira
17. Sonny Massahi
18. Sara Svendsen
19. Diego Paredes-Sanz

    DTU Space

    Affiliation as printed

    DTU Space (Denmark)

20. Michael K. Krumrey
21. Dieter Skroblin

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

    Affiliation as printed

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (Germany)

22. Robert Fechner

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

    Affiliation as printed

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (Germany)

23. Vadim Burwitz
24. Giovanni Pareschi
25. Bianca Salmaso
26. Alberto Moretti

    Brera Astronomical Observatory · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera (Italy)

27. Daniele Spiga
28. Stefano Basso
29. Giuseppe Valsecchi
    Affiliation as printed

    Media Lario S.r.L. (Italy)

30. Dervis Vernani
    Affiliation as printed

    Media Lario S.r.L. (Italy)

31. Gemma Ballett
32. Mirko Riede

    European Space Agency

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

33. Tapio K. Korhonen

    European Space Agency

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

34. Mikko Pasanen

    European Space Agency

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

35. A. Sánchez Aachen Cosine

    European Space Agency · Cosine (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    cosine (Netherlands)

36. Dominique Heinis Aachen Cosine

    European Space Agency · Cosine (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    cosine (Netherlands)

37. Joan Torras Aachen Cosine

    European Space Agency · Cosine (Netherlands)

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    cosine (Netherlands)

38. Norman Niewrzella

    European Space Agency · DTU Space

    Affiliation as printed

    DTU Space (Denmark)

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

39. Richard Willingale

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt · European Space Agency

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (Germany)

40. Finn Kjær Christensen

    European Space Agency · Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

    MPI für extraterrestrische Physik (Germany)