The NewAthena mission plans an ambitious multi-messenger X-ray observatory to study the cosmos
- Led by the European Space Agency, it is expected to be adopted in 2027 and launched around 2036-2037
- NewAthena opens the door to multi-messenger astrophysics, which combines data from light, gravitational waves and neutrinos to explore extreme phenomena in the universe
- Details of the mission, which involves IEEC researchers at the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC), are explained in an article in Nature Astronomy
A team of international researchers has presented the new X-ray observatory that promises to revolutionise the cosmos observation: the NewAthena mission, an observatory that will use multi-messenger astrophysics with two advanced instruments: a detector capable of mapping large sky areas in search of X-ray sources and an integral field unit, which will provide key data on the composition of cosmic objects.
The observatory, which is being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), has the participation of the Institute of Physics of Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-University of Cantabria), and the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC), with several members of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC — Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) among them. The mission is expected to be officially adopted in 2027, with a projected launch in 2036-2037.
Now, a study published in Nature Astronomy and authored, among others, by Francisco Carrera (IFCA) and Nanda Rea (IEEC researcher at the ICE-CSIC), defines the main lines of an X-ray observatory designed to multiply the sensitivity and capabilities offered by current instruments.
“NewAthena is designed to revolutionise X-ray spectroscopy and mapping, allowing us to observe cosmic phenomena with unprecedented precision,” says Francisco Carrera, who underlines the importance of this project “to answer some of the most fundamental questions of modern astrophysics.”
A leap towards multi-messenger astrophysics
The NewAthena mission will not only improve the study of X-rays in the cosmos, but will also open new doors in multi-messenger astrophysics, a field that combines data from light, gravitational waves and neutrinos to explore extreme phenomena in the Universe. According to Nanda Rea, this technology “will allow us to delve deeper into topics such as the impact of stars on planetary habitability, the equation that rules matter in neutron stars, the production and distribution of metals in the cosmos, the mechanisms behind the cosmological evolution of baryons trapped in concentrations of dark matter, or the effects of supermassive black holes on galactic evolution.”
Among its technical features, NewAthena will feature two advanced instruments: a wide-field detector capable of mapping large sky areas in search of X-ray sources, which will allow the physical properties of these regions to be studied efficiently; and an integral field unit, designed to obtain images and X-ray spectra at each point, providing key data on the composition and physical state of cosmic objects.
The NewAthena mission is based on decades of collaboration between international agencies such as ESA, NASA and JAXA, as well as the scientific and technical work of institutions around the world. Silvia Martínez, manager of the Athena Community Office (ACO), concludes that “this joint effort promises to open a new era in astronomical observation, consolidating NewAthena as a key reference in the next generation of space missions.”
Press release prepared in collaboration with the Institute of Space Sciences.
More information
This research is presented in a paper entitled “The NewAthena mission concept in the context of the next decade of X-ray astronomy”, by Cruise, M., Guainazzi, M., Aird, J. et al., which appeared in the journal Nature Astronomy on 31 December 2024.
Contacts
IEEC Communication Office
Castelldefels, Barcelona
E-mail: comunicacio@ieec.cat
Lead Researcher at the IEEC
Nanda Rea
Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC)
Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC)
E-mail: rea@ieec.cat, rea@ice.csic.es
About the IEEC
The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC — Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) promotes and coordinates space research and technology development in Catalonia for the benefit of society. IEEC fosters collaborations both locally and worldwide and is an efficient agent of knowledge, innovation and technology transfer. As a result of more than 25 years of high-quality research, done in collaboration with major international organisations, IEEC ranks among the best international research centres, focusing on areas such as: astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, and Earth Observation. IEEC’s engineering division develops instrumentation for ground- and space-based projects, and has extensive experience in working with private or public organisations from the aerospace and other innovation sectors.
The IEEC is a non-profit public sector foundation that was established in February 1996. It has a Board of Trustees composed of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC), and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). The IEEC is also a CERCA centre.