Gamingdeputy reported on April 27 that on January 9 this year, my country successfully launched the Einstein probe satellite using the Long March 2C carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Today, the first batch of in-orbit scientific detection images from the Einstein probe satellite were released in Beijing.
Advertisement
Officials pointed out that there are a total of 11 detection images released this time, including satellite observations of celestial bodies near the center of the Milky Way, observations of the supermassive black hole M87, detailed observations of supernova remnants, and the X-ray temporary source captured by the satellite for the first time. .
Gamingdeputy inquired about public information and learned that the Einstein Probe (EP) satellite project is one of the space science satellites deployed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Strategic Priority Science and Technology Special Space Science (Phase II). It was launched on December 29, 2017. The project was approved by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and was successfully launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 15:03 on January 9, 2024. It successfully entered the predetermined orbit and has an on-orbit life of not less than 3 years.
Advertisement
The EP satellite is a scientific exploration satellite oriented to time-domain astronomy and high-energy astrophysics. Its mission is to carry out large-field time-domain sky survey monitoring in the soft X-ray band, aiming to systematically discover high-energy temporary objects in the universe and monitor celestial activities. sex, exploring its nature and physical processes.
Because this satellite is mainly used to observe violent explosions in the universe and capture these fleeting “fireworks” of the universe, and its main scientific goals involve important scientific predictions of Einstein's theory of relativity such as black holes and gravitational waves, it was named “Einstein Probe”.
According to reports, the Einstein probe is another space science satellite developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Space Science Pilot Project Phase II following the “Taiji 1”, “Huairou 1” and “Kuafu 1”. The Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and the French Space Agency are jointly involved in the satellite project.
The EP satellite is the first large-scale application of “lobster eye” microhole array focusing imaging technology in the world, which can achieve a 10-fold increase in sensitivity and spatial resolution. While conducting large-field monitoring, it can accurately capture more distant and faint images in the universe. High-energy temporary sources and fleeting unknown phenomena are detected, and early warnings are issued to guide other astronomical equipment based on space and ground to conduct follow-up observations.
Officials also stated that since the EP satellite was put into orbit, it has detected 17 cases of new temporary sources and 168 cases of stellar flares, and issued more than 10 global telegrams, guiding multiple international optical and radio telescopes, and space X-ray observatories. Follow-up observations were carried out. The new transient sources detected have different origin types, including tidal disruption of stars, gamma ray bursts, new magneto-cataclysmic variables, new X-ray binaries, etc. The observation results have been highly recognized and paid attention to by international colleagues, and have provided Collaborative observations by ground and space telescopes at home and abroad provide important guidance.
In the next stage, the EP satellite will continue to carry out and complete on-orbit tests in accordance with the established plan, strengthen domestic and foreign cooperation and data open sharing, detect fleeting “fireworks” in the universe, and make meaningful discoveries for high-energy time-domain astronomical observations and research. degree of contribution.
Related Reading:
“my country successfully launched the Einstein probe satellite to explore temporary and exploding celestial objects in the universe”