XRISM Mission Unveils Intriguing X-ray Cosmos Insights Beyond Imagery

NASA/JAXA XRISM Mission Unveils Initial Glimpse into the X-ray Cosmos The XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) observatory, spearheaded by Japan, has provided a first look at the groundbreaking data it will gather during its upcoming science operations. The satellite’s science team has shared a snapshot revealing a cluster of hundreds of galaxies and a spectrum of stellar debris in a neighboring galaxy, offering scientists a detailed insight into its chemical composition.

“XRISM will provide the international science community with a new glimpse of the hidden X-ray sky,” remarked Richard Kelley, the U.S.
As the lead investigator for XRISM at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, I emphasize that our exploration will extend beyond merely capturing X-ray images of these sources; we will also delve into studying their compositions, movements, and physical conditions. Launched on September 6, 2023, XRISM, pronounced “chrism,” is a collaborative effort between JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), NASA, and contributions from ESA (European Space Agency). It is designed to detect X-rays with energies up to 12,000 electron volts, focusing on studying the universe’s hottest regions, largest structures, and objects with the strongest gravity.

The mission encompasses two instruments, Resolve and Xtend, each situated at the focal point of an X-ray Mirror Assembly constructed at NASA’s Goddard. Resolve, a microcalorimeter spectrometer developed by NASA and JAXA, operates in a container of liquid helium at just above absolute zero. By measuring the energy of X-rays hitting Resolve’s detector, the instrument provides unprecedented information about the source.

Using Resolve, the mission team studied N132D, a supernova remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud, obtaining the most detailed X-ray spectrum of the object. Peaks associated with various elements were identified, shedding light on the supernova’s explosion.

Xtend, XRISM’s second instrument, is an X-ray imager developed by JAXA, offering a wide field of view that allows observation of an area 60% larger than the average apparent size of the full moon. Xtend captured an X-ray image of Abell 2319, a rich galaxy cluster undergoing a major merger event.

Despite an issue with Resolve’s aperture door, which has not opened as planned, limiting the mission to 1,700 electron volts instead of the intended 300, the instrument is exceeding expectations. The XRISM team continues to explore the anomaly and is evaluating alternative approaches to open the door, while the Xtend instrument remains unaffected.