Mission Studies
NASA / ESA Athena Study
The Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics
This NASA / ESA Athena Study was active from 2014 to 2017. Note that this web page is not currently maintained. Information here is for archival purposes only. For up-to-date information, please go to the NASA ASD Athena site.
About Athena
Discovering the Hot and Energetic Universe
Athena was selected to address the Cosmic Vision theme of the "Hot and Energetic Universe."
NASA is working with ESA to define the possible NASA contribution to this ESA-led X-ray mission. One U.S. scientist, Randall Smith of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has been selected for the SST. Robert Petre of GSFC and Michael Garcia of NASA/HQ are ex-officio members.
NASA ASD Athena Site about Discovering the Hot and Energetic Universe
ESA's Athena Science Study Team
| Name | Institution |
|---|---|
| Xavier Barcons | IFCA, ES |
| Didier Barret | IRAP, FR |
| Anne Decourchelle | CEA Saclay, FR |
| Jan-Willem den Herder | SRON, NL |
| Andrew Fabian | Cambridge, UK |
| Hironori Matsumoto | Nagoya U, JP |
| Kirpal Nandra | MPE, DE |
| Luigi Piro | INAF, IT |
| Randall Smith | CfA, US |
| Richard Willingale | Leicester, UK |
In July 2014, NASA issued a Dear Colleague Letter asking for community participation in the ESA Athena Science Study Team.
In November 2014, NASA issued a second Dear Colleague Letter asking for community participation in the Athena Science Study Team Working Groups.
In November 2015, the Athena Science Study Team re-opened applications for membership to the Community Working Groups. US scientists should apply directly via the ASST web site (rather than via NASA) by the Dec 31, 2015 deadline. More information is available on ESA Athena websites for both the Athena community working group structure and membership as well as the application form.
SST / SWG / US Co-Chairs Reports
NASA Headquarters
14 December 2015
| Time | Topic | Speaker | Presentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting Agenda | [PDF] | ||
| 1:00 PM | NASA Reports | ||
| Welcome, NASA / HQ Athena Actions and Plans | Garcia | [PDF] | |
| NASA/GSFC Athena Projects | Petre | [PDF] | |
| Athena Science Study Team and SWG 3.0 Report | Smith | [PDF] | |
| NASA/HQ Athena Program | Davis | [PDF] | |
| 2:00 PM | NASA/HQ Athena Perspective (30 min, calling in from CA) | Hertz | |
| 2:30 PM | SWG Co-Chairs reports | ||
| SWG 1.1, Evolution of galaxy groups and clusters | Allen | ||
| SWG 2.0, The Energetic Universe | Brenneman | [PDF] | |
| SWG 2.3, Astrophysics of feedback in local AGN | Ptak | [PDF] | |
| SWG 3.2, Star formation and evolution | Hornschemeier | [PDF] | |
| SWG 3.3, End points of stellar evolution | Miller | ||
| SWG 5.6, Targets of Opportunity | Troja | ||
| 3:30 PM | NASA Instrument Team Co-I reports | ||
| NASA contribution to X-IFU | Bandler | [PDF] | |
| NASA contribution to WFI | Burrows | ||
| 4:30 PM | Discussion, lead by Brandt and Bregman | ||
| 5:00 PM | Adjourn | ||
| 6:30 PM | Dinner in DC, location TBD (Garcia) |
NASA / ESA Athena Study Events
Meetings, Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, and other events.
3 – 7 January 2017
229th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society
Splinter Session at AAS 229th
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