[新聞] Einstein Probe lifts off on a mission

1.新聞網址︰ https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/01/Einstein_Probe_lifts_off_on_a_ mission_to_monitor_the_X-ray_sky https://reurl.cc/eLW52M 2.新聞來源︰ ESA website 3.完整新聞標題 Einstein Probe lifts off on a mission to monitor the X-ray sky 4.完整新聞內容︰ The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) spacecraft Einstein Probe lifted off on a Chang Zheng (Long March) 2C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in C hina at 15:03 CST / 07:03 GMT / 08:03 CET on 9 January 2024. With the successful launch, Einstein Probe began its mission to survey the sky and hunt for bursts of X-ray light from mysterious objects such as neutron stars and black holes. Einstein Probe is a collaboration led by CAS with the European Space Agency (ESA ) and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), Germany. “I would like to congratulate our colleagues at CAS on the successful launch of an innovative mission that is set to make great strides in the field of X-ray a stronomy,” says Carole Mundell, ESA’s Director of Science. “At ESA, we value international collaboration to advance science and deepen our understanding of t he cosmos. I wish the Einstein Probe team a very successful mission.” To efficiently monitor the entire sky and routinely discover new X-ray sources, Einstein Probe is equipped with two instruments that together deliver a wide and sensitive view of the celestial sphere: the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT) an d the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT). The design of WXT’s optics is inspired b y the eyes of lobsters; in a modular layout, it employs hundreds of thousands sq uare fibres that channel light onto the detectors. This gives Einstein Probe the unique capability to observe nearly one tenth of the celestial sphere in a sing le glance. New X-ray sources spotted by WXT will be immediately targeted with FX T, which has a narrower view but is more sensitive and will capture more details . ESA supported testing and calibrating of the X-ray detectors and the optics of W XT and developed the mirror assembly of one of FXT’s two telescopes in collabor ation with MPE and Media Lario (Italy). MPE contributed the mirror assembly for the other telescope of FXT, as well as the detector modules for both FXT units. ESA also provided the system to deflect unwanted electrons away from the detecto rs (the electron diverter). Throughout the mission, ESA’s ground stations will be used to help download the data from the spacecraft. In return for these contributions ESA will get access to 10% of the data generat ed by Einstein Probe’s observations. The ability of the mission to spot new X-ray sources and monitor how they change over time is fundamental to improving our grasp of the most energetic processes in the Universe. Powerful blasts of X-rays occur when neutron stars collide, su pernovas explode, and matter is swallowed by black holes or ejected from the cru shing magnetic fields that envelop them. “I am looking forward to the discoveries that Einstein Probe will enable,” say s Erik Kuulkers, ESA’s Einstein Probe Project Scientist. “Thanks to its unique ly wide gaze, we will be able to catch the X-ray light from collisions between n eutron stars and find out what is causing some of the gravitational waves we det ect on Earth. Often, when these elusive space-time ripples are registered, we ca nnot locate where they are coming from. By promptly spotting the burst of X-rays , we will pinpoint the origin of many gravitational wave events.” After launch, Einstein Probe reached its orbit at an altitude of approximately 6 00 km. The spacecraft circles the Earth every 96 minutes with an orbital inclina tion of 29 degrees and it is able to monitor almost the full night-sky in just t hree orbits. In the next six months, the operation team will be engaged in testing and calibr ating the instruments. After this preparation phase, Einstein Probe will spend a t least three years attentively watching the entire X-ray sky. 中國科學院（CAS）的愛因斯坦探測器於2024年1月9日15:03中國標準時間，搭載長征二號丙 運載火箭從西昌衛星發射中心升空。成功發射後，愛因斯坦探測器開始了其任務，對天空進 行調查，尋找來自神秘物體（如中子星和黑洞）的X射線光脈衝。 愛因斯坦探測器是由CAS牽頭與歐洲太空總署（ESA）和德國馬克斯·普朗克天體物理研究所（ MPE）合作的項目。 ESA科學總監卡羅爾·門德爾表示：“我要祝賀CAS同事成功發射這項創新任務，將在X射線天 文學領域取得巨大進展。在ESA，我們重視國際合作，以推進科學並深化對宇宙的理解。我祝 愛因斯坦探測器團隊取得極大成功。” 為了有效監測整個天空並定期發現新的X射線源，愛因斯坦探測器配備了兩個儀器，共同提供 廣泛且靈敏的天球視野：廣視場X射線望遠鏡（WXT）和跟踪X射線望遠鏡（FXT）。 WXT的光 學設計靈感來自龍蝦的眼睛；它以模塊化布局，使用數十萬平方光纖引導光線到檢測器。這 使愛因斯坦探測器具有一瞥觀測近乎天球十分之一的獨特能力。WXT發現的新X射線源將立即 被FXT定位，後者的視野較窄但更靈敏，能夠捕捉更多細節。 ESA支持對X射線檢測器和WXT光學的測試和校準，並與MPE和Media Lario（意大利）合作開發 了FXT的其中一個望遠鏡的鏡組裝。 MPE為FXT的另一個望遠鏡提供了鏡組裝，以及兩個FXT單 元的檢測器模塊。ESA還提供了將不需要的電子偏離到檢測器外的系統（電子分流器）。在整 個任務期間，ESA的地面站將用於協助從太空船下載數據。 作為這些貢獻的回報，ESA將獲得愛因斯坦探測器觀測產生的數據的10％訪問權。 這項任務發現新的X射線源並監測它們隨時間的變化的能力，對於提高我們對宇宙中最高能量 過程的理解至關重要。當中子星相撞、超新星爆炸，以及物質被黑洞吞噬或從包裹它們的巨 大磁場中噴射時，就會發生強烈的X射線爆發。 ESA的愛因斯坦探測器項目科學家埃里克·庫爾克斯表示：“我期待著愛因斯坦探測器將帶來 的發現。由於其獨特的廣視野，我們將能夠捕捉來自中子星碰撞的X射線光，並了解引起我們 在地球上檢測到的某些引力波的原因。通常，當這些難以捉摸的時空漣漪被記錄時，我們無 法確定它們來自何處。通過迅速發現X射線爆發，我們將能夠確定許多引力波事件的起源。” 發射後，愛因斯坦探測器達到約600公里的軌道高度。該太空船每96分鐘繞地球一圈，軌道傾 斜度為29度，僅需三個軌道即可監測幾乎整個夜空。 在接下來的六個月中，運營團隊將參與儀器的測試和校準。在這個準備階段之後，愛因斯坦 探測器將花費至少三年的時間，專注地觀察整個X射線天空。 5.附註、心得、想法︰ 台灣今天吵的主角Einstein probe已經在正確的軌道上囉！ 蠻好奇發射軌道偏離如國防部所示，衛星有辦法如期在正確軌道上運作嗎？ 有沒神人來分享一下？ 更新為ChatGPT 3.5翻譯 ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc), 來自: 223.138.151.105 (臺灣) ※ 文章網址: https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/HatePolitics/M.1704807032.A.EC8.html