Science

The X-IFU has recently undergone several changes in its design architecture. An important work ahead of the launch is to analyse, verify and understand the X-IFU capabilities when observing. That’s why the instrument response files have been updated.

A new cryogenic workshop, the first gathering of all the main parties in the newly reformulated X-IFU cooling chain, took place January 31st through February 2nd in Toulouse, at CNES.

Focus on AVS, the company in charge of the Dewar. Added Value Solutions, is a global SME established in 2006. Today AVS is one of the world’s leading companies specialized in the design and development of critical systems for Big Science.

The DRE De-multiplexing (DEMUX) Demonstrator Model (DM) printed circuit board (PCB) arrived at IRAP on January 15. It was designed by the DRE team at IRAP, with CAO-concept handling the layout and CIBEL the manufacturing. 

We’re delighted to share with you one of the latest news on the project’s progress. At the end of 2023, successful tests were carried out at CEA DSBT in Grenoble.

On Wednesday November 8, 2023, ESA’s Science Programme Committee (SPC) formally and unanimously approved the restart of industrial studies for the Athena mission, still considered as a flagship mission.

Following the necessity to bring the ESA Cost at Completion below €1.3 billion, the Athena mission and the X-IFU have entered a reformulation phase in 2022.

Image credit: © ESO The astronomer Carl Sagan once said: “We are made of stardust”. This is, to a large […]

The test platform developed by IRAP and CNES in Toulouse is a key element of the demonstration of the detection […]

All the galaxies in the Universe host a supermassive black hole of unknown origin at their center and the mass of the black hole…

Clusters of galaxies are the largest bound astrophysical objects in the Universe. Located at the nodes of the cosmic web, […]

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are bright compact regions located at the centres of some galaxies. These objects are powered by […]