Universe ID: 13531

XRISM: Calorimeter Spectrometer Insert and Mirror Tests

Released on January 31, 2020

XRISM team members pose with the XRISM Calorimeter Spectrometer Insert in a NASA Goddard clean room. From left to right, they are Bryan James, Mike Sampson, Tomomi Watanabe, Pete Barfknecht, Scott Porter, and Sinclair Douglas.

Credit: Larry Gilbert/NASA

The X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM, pronounced “crism”) is a collaboration between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA, along with ESA participation, to investigate the X-ray universe using high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy. XRISM features two instruments: Resolve, an X-ray calorimeter spectrometer, and Xtend, an X-ray imager.

The first group of images, taken in November 2019, shows scientists and technicians in a clean room performing an electrical checkout of the XRISM Calorimeter Spectrometer Insert (CSI), which includes the Resolve detector.

The remaining images were taken in December 2019 and show testing and calibration of a completed flight X-ray Mirror Assembly (XMA) at the 100-meter X-ray beamline facility at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

Goddard developed the X-ray Mirror Assemblies, as well as the Resolve detector and many of its subsystems. XRISM is expected to launch in 2023.

The XRISM Calorimeter Spectrometer Insert (CSI) allows X-ray light focused by an X-ray Mirror Assembly at the front of the spacecraft to reach the Resolve detector. In flight, the silver cap will not be present. Part of the CSI was built using flight-quaified spare parts from the ill-fated Hitomi mission, as can be seen by the engraved "ASTRO-H" — an earlier name for the mission.

Credit: Larry Gilbert/NASA

The underside of the XRISM Calorimeter Spectrometer Insert. The two silver cylindrical features are the first- and second-stage refrigeration devices, which will be immersed in liquid helium during the mission.

Credit: Larry Gilbert/NASA

These electrical leads power high-performance magnets in refrigerators that work in stages to keep the Calorimeter Spectrometer Insert very cold: 50 millikelvin, or 0.05 K above absolute zero (–459.58 F, –273.1 C).

Credit: Larry Gilbert/NASA

Takashi Okajima, team lead for XRISM X-ray Mirror Assemblies, guides a completed flight mirror out of the X-ray beamline vacuum chamber for transport to another test facility.

Credit: Bill Hrybyk/NASA

XRISM team members Keisuke Tamura (left) and Takayuki Hayashi carefully pack a completed flight X-ray Mirror Assembly into a container for transport within NASA Goddard.

Credit: Bill Hrybyk/NASA

Credits

Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park): Science Writer
Jeanette Kazmierczak (University of Maryland College Park): Science Writer
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Producer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.