China’s Successful Launch of Einstein Probe Satellite Marks New Milestone in Space Exploration
China’s aerospace industry achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of the Einstein Probe (EP) satellite on January 9, 2024. Led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the project was a collaborative effort between CAS, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE).
The EP satellite was carried into a circular low-Earth orbit by the Long March 2C rocket, launched by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Positioned at an altitude of 600 km and an inclination of 30 degrees, the satellite weighs 1,450 kg and is equipped with advanced technology to study objects emitting energy in the soft X-rays band, with a particular focus on black holes and supernovae.
To fulfill its objectives, the EP satellite is equipped with two cutting-edge instruments: the Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT) and the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT). The WXT boasts a wide field of view of 3,600 square degrees and operates in the energy range of 0.5 keV to 4.0 keV. Meanwhile, the FXT consists of two identical Wolter-I X-ray telescopes, providing higher resolution and larger light collecting power while working in the energy range of 0.5 keV to 8.0 keV. These telescopes will survey the sky and identify interesting targets for further study.
The EP satellite’s primary goals include the discovery and characterization of cosmic X-ray transients, studying X-ray outbursts of quiescent black holes, and localizing gravitational-wave events. ESA has been an important contributor to the project, providing support in testing and calibrating the WXT instrument, as well as assisting in the assembly of mirrors for one of the FXTs.
The Long March 2C rocket is derived from China’s Long March 2B vehicle and is a two-stage medium-lift launch vehicle. The first stage consists of four YF-20C engines, each producing an impressive 740 kN of thrust. The second stage is powered by a single YF-24E engine, boasting a thrust of 816 kN. The third stage features a restartable upper stage known as Yuanzheng, equipped with a YF-50D engine producing 6.5 kN of thrust.
The EP satellite is expected to operate for a minimum of three years, providing valuable data for scientific research. As part of the collaboration with ESA, the European agency will have access to 10% of the generated data, further enhancing international cooperation in space exploration and discovery.
The successful launch of the EP satellite marks another important step in China’s rapidly advancing aerospace industry. With its state-of-the-art technology and collaborative efforts, the mission holds great promise for uncovering new knowledge about the mysteries of the universe and expanding our understanding of celestial phenomena.
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