Xuntian
Appearance
File:China CSST Xuntian.jpg Artist's impression of Xuntian space telescope | |
Mission type | Astronomy |
---|---|
Operator | CNSA |
Mission duration | 10+ years (planned) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Dry mass | 15,500 kilograms (34,200 lb)[1] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2024 |
Rocket | Long March 5 |
Launch site | Wenchang Satellite Launch Center |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Low Earth orbit |
Main telescope | |
Diameter | 2 metres (6.6 ft) |
Xuntian (Chinese: 巡天; pinyin: Xún Tiān; lit. 'Space Sentinel'), also known as the Chinese Space Station Telescope or CSST (Chinese: 巡天号空间望远镜) is a planned Chinese space telescope currently under development.[2] It will feature a 2 meter (6.6 foot) diameter primary mirror and is expected to have a field of view 300 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. 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 planned for launch in 2024 on Long March 5B rocket to co-orbit with the Chinese space station, which will allow for periodic docking with the station.[3]
See also
- Hubble Space Telescope
- James Webb Space Telescope
- Lists of telescopes
- Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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). 30 (6). CAS: 721–732. doi:10.16418/j.issn.1000-3045.2015.06.002. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ 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.