X-Ray Astronomy Study with the Astro-E Satellite

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The Astro-E satellite was launched on Feb. 10, 2000, trying to be the Japanese fifth X-ray astronomical satellite, but failed to be it according to an accident in its launcher. It was intended to be a international X-ray observatory in orbit having a capability for high sensitivity observations with the finest energy resolution ever achieved in a very wide energy range. A part of the scientific instruments were developed under a Japan-US collaboration, and the final completion of the development, the instrumental calibrations before launch, the final performance verification before the launch after mounting them in the spacecraft and so on were done in the latest two years. By this grant-in-aid, participation of Japanese members in the final completion and tests of the instruments in US, taking part of US members in the final integration tests in Japan, attendance of Astro-E team members in meetings for reviews and investigations on current issues and so on were supported!. The developments were performed collaboratively by all the Japan-US members and the aid by this budget was very useful. Furthermore, this development yielded new results on high-energy-photon detectors and presentations of them in international conferences were also supported. In parallel to those activities on the instrumental developments, investigations on how to maximize the scientific yields have been done by organizing a science working group composing of leading scientists from Japan, US and Europe. In particular, meetings on collaborations of the Astro-E project with the European Space Agency were held and participation of the team members were supported by this grant in the last fiscal year. Although the launch failed, the spacecraft development and the international collaborations were very fruitful.