Xuntian
China CSST Xuntian.jpg
Artist's impression of Xuntian space telescope
Mission typeAstronomy
OperatorCNSA
Mission duration10+ years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Dry mass15,500 kilograms (34,200 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date2024 (planned)[2]
RocketLong March 5B (Y5)
Launch siteWenchang Satellite Launch Center
ContractorCASC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemLow Earth orbit
Main telescope
Diameter2 metres (6.6 ft)
 

Xuntian (Chinese: 巡天; pinyin: Xúntiān)[a], also known as the Chinese Survey Space Telescope[5][6] (CSST) (Chinese: 巡天号空间望远镜; pinyin: Xúntiānhào Kōngjiān Wàngyuǎnjìng) is a planned Chinese space telescope currently under development.[7] It will feature a 2 meter (6.6 foot) diameter primary mirror and is expected to have a field of view 300–350 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope.[8] This will allow the telescope to image up to 40 percent of the sky using its 2.5 gigapixel camera over ten years.

Xuntian is scheduled for launch in 2024[2] on a Long March 5B rocket to co-orbit with the Tiangong space station in slightly different orbital phases, which will allow for periodic docking with the station.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The name "Xuntian" comes from the Chinese translation of Astronomical survey (巡天调查, Xúntiān Diàochá). Xuntian can also literally translated as "surveying the sky"[3] or "survey to heavens".[4]

References

  1. ^ Hu Zhan (2019-11-05). "An Update on the Chinese Space Station Telescope Project" (PDF). National Astronomical Observatories. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  2. ^ a b Jones, Andrew (28 February 2023). "China to expand its space station, international astronaut selection underway". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  3. ^ "China Space Station Telescope "Almost Complete"". 2022-07-22.
  4. ^ "China's massive Xuntian Telescope set to beat NASA's Hubble Space Telescope". 2022-07-24.
  5. ^ "Flagship Chinese Space Telescope to Unravel Cosmic Mysteries". Chinese Academy of Sciences. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  6. ^ Hu Zhan (2021-09-22). "The Chinese Survey Space Telescope" (PDF). National Astronomical Observatories. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  7. ^ Gao, Ming; Zhao, Guangheng; Gu, Yidong (2015). "我国空间站的空间科学与应用任务" [Space Science and Application Mission in China's Space Station]. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (in Chinese). CAS. 30 (6): 721–732. doi:10.16418/j.issn.1000-3045.2015.06.002. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Outgunning NASA's Hubble, China Claims Its Xuntian Telescope with 350-Fold Bigger View Can Unravel 'Cosmic Mysteries'". 8 May 2022.
  9. ^ Jones, Andrew (20 April 2021). "China wants to launch its own Hubble-class telescope as part of space station". Space.com. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
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