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This is where you will find all the latest news about the project.

Reconstructing a three dimensional view of stellar explosions

From the calcium in our bones to the iron in our blood, and oxygen we breathe, are largely the result of stellar processes, particularly supernovae. In the well known sentence  "we are all made of stars," we acknowledge our cosmic heritage and the role of these stellar explosions in making life possible.

A new Cryogenic Workshop and NASA’s 4-K Cooler contribution

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.

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Winner of the Women Astronomer Infographic Contest

The result of the Women Astronomer Infographic contest to celebrate the International Day of Girls and Women in Science is out! The contest aimed to showcase the invaluable contributions of women astronomers through engaging infographics.

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People of X-IFU – Interview with Sophie BEAUMONT

Sophie Beaumont is a detection chain engineer in the optoelectronics department at CNES. In this interview, she explains her motivations and different roles and tasks within the project.

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Focus on AVS, the company in charge of the X-IFU Dewar

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.

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Delivery of the DRE DEMUX Demonstrator Model PCB at IRAP

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. 

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Successful tests of the ADR control electronics

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.

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11th of February 2024: Women Astronomer Infographic Contest

To celebrate the International Day of Girls and Women in Science (11th of February), we launch a call to highlight the invaluable contributions of women astronomers,

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Best wishes for 2024!

The year 2023 has just come to an end. 2024 opens with new perspectives for the X-IFU project and for the Consortium. On behalf of the X-IFU Consortium, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your confidence. We wish you all a very happy and successful new year!

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WFEE Demonstration Model delivered to CNES

The Warm Front-End Electronics (WFEE) Demonstrator Model was delivered to CNES on November 6, 7 and 8, 2023. Supply of the WFEE has been the responsibility of the Astroparticle and Cosmology (APC) laboratory.

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Virtual Consortium Meeting #17 took place from November 20th to 22nd

From November 20 to 22, 178 men and women gathered online for the 17th meeting of the X-IFU consortium.

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Congratulations to Florent Castellani who defended his thesis

Congratulations to Florent CASTELLANI who defended his thesis entitled “Study of the scientific and instrumental performances of Athena’s X-Ray Integral Field Unit”, on Friday November 17, 2023 at IRAP. 

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Go-ahead for Athena

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.

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