XRISM Beauty Shots

  • Released Monday, December 12th, 2022
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 11:43AM
  • ID: 20374

This page contains animations and illustrations of the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission spacecraft, which is scheduled to launch into orbit around Earth in 2023.

The mission, abbreviated XRISM (pronounced “crism”), is a collaboration between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA, along with ESA (the European Space Agency) 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. Cooled to a fraction of a degree above absolute zero, Resolve’s detector can measure the slight amount of heat generated when each pixel absorbs a single X-ray photon. Xtend will image a field of view about 60% larger than the apparent size of a full moon, giving it XRISM the widest view of any X-ray imaging satellite flown to date.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, developed the X-ray Mirror Assemblies used for both instruments, as well as the Resolve detector and many of its subsystems.

XRISM right side to left side flyby, favoring the X-ray mirrors and star trackers in the front, available both as a 4K/30 fps movie and as frames.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

XRISM flyover, favoring the X-ray mirrors and star trackers in the front and the Resolve instrument within the truss structure at the spacecraft's far end. Available both as a 4K/30 fps movie and as frames.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM in space favoring the side opposite the solar panels, available in 8K and with transparent background.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM in space favoring the side opposite the solar panels, available in 8K and with transparent background.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM in space favoring the X-ray mirrors and star trackers in front, available in 8K and with transparent background.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM in space favoring the X-ray mirrors and star trackers in front, available in 8K and with transparent background.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM, left front view, available in 8K and with transparent background.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM, left front view, available in 8K and with transparent background.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM, right rear view from above, available in 8K and with transparent background.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM, right rear view from above, available in 8K and with transparent background.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM, left side view from above, available in 8K and with transparent background.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Illustration of XRISM, left side view from above, available in 8K and with transparent background.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab



Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab