Extreme Universe Space Observatory

The Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO) is the first Space mission concept devoted to the investigation of cosmic rays and neutrinos of extreme energy (E > 5×10¹⁹ eV). Using the Earth's atmosphere as a giant detector, the detection is performed by looking at the streak of fluorescence produced when such a particle interacts with the Earth's atmosphere.

EUSO was a mission of the European Space Agency, designed to be hosted on the International Space Station as an external payload of the Columbus. EUSO successfully completed the "Phase A" study, however because of programmatic and financial constraints the mission was not continued by ESA. The mission was then re-oriented as a payload to be hosted on board the JEM module of the Japanese KIBO facility of the ISS. The mission was then renamed JEM-EUSO. JEM-EUSO is currently studied by RIKEN and JAXA in collaboration with other 60 institutions from 12 countries in view of a flight in 2015.

External links

• Official ESA EUSO webpage
• Riken JEM-EUSO webpage