Spektr-UV explained

Spektr-UV Спектр-УФ
Mission Type:	Space telescope
Operator:	Russian Astro Space Center
Manufacturer:	NPO Lavochkin
Payload Mass:	28400NaN0
Launch Date:	2030 (proposed)^[1]
Launch Rocket:	Angara A5M
Launch Site:	Vostochny Site 1A
Launch Contractor:	Roscosmos
Telescope Wavelength:	115 to 315 nm
Programme:	Spektr program
Previous Mission:	Spektr-RG
Next Mission:	Spektr-M

Spektr-UV, also known as World Space Observatory-Ultraviolet (WSO-UV), is a proposed ultraviolet space telescope intended for work in the 115 nm to 315 nm wavelength range.^{[2] [3]} It is an international project led by Russia (Roscosmos), with participation from Spain and Japan. The launch had initially been planned for 2007, but has since been continually delayed;^[4], the launch is expected to take place no earlier than 2030 atop an Angara A5M rocket from Vostochny Cosmodrome.^[5]

Overview

The main instrument of the observatory is a 1.7-metre Ritchey–Chrétien telescope. The telescope will be equipped with the following instruments:

WSO-UV Spectrographs Unit (WUVS) (Russia/Japan)

The WUVS spectrographs assembly consists of four channels:

• Vacuum Ultraviolet Echelle Spectrograph, VUVES (Russia): The FUV high-resolution spectrograph (VUVES) provides echelle spectroscopy capabilities with high resolution (R ~ 50 000) in the 115–176 nm range.
• Ultraviolet Echelle Spectrograph, UVES (Russia): The NUV high-resolution spectrograph (UVES) provides echelle spectroscopy capabilities with R ~ 50 000 in the 174–310 nm range.
• Long-Slit Spectrograph, LSS (Russia): The Long-Slit Spectrograph (LSS) provides low resolution (R ~ 1000), long slit spectroscopy in the 115–305 nm range. The spatial resolution is better than 0.5 arcsec(0.1 arcsec as the best value).
• UV Spectrograph for observation of Earth-like Exoplanets, UVSPEX (Japan)

WSO-UV Field Camera Unit (FCU) (Russia/Spain)

The FCU has two channels, each fed by an independent pick off mirror:

• Field Camera Unit FUV channel (FCU/FUV) (Russia/Spain): The far UV (FUV) channel has capabilities for high resolution imaging through the MCP detector, scale 0,047 arcsec/pixel in 115–190 nm range.
• Field Camera Unit UVO channel (FCU/UVO) (Russia): The UV-optical (UVO) channel is designed for wide field imaging through the CCD detector, scale 0,146 arcsec/pixel in 185–810 nm range.

Proposed and former instruments

• Stellar Coronograph for Exoplanet Direct Imaging, SCEDI (NAOJ, Rikkyo University, Japan).
• HIRDES (High-Resolution Double Echelle Spectrograph): R~55000 spectroscopy of point sources in the 102–320 nm range (Germany). Germany exited the Spektr-UV programme due to financial problems, so Russia replaced HIRDES with WUVES.
• ISSIS (Imaging and Slitless Spectroscopy Instrument for Surveys) was being developed to carry out UV and optical diffraction limited imaging of astronomical objects. The ISSIS would have incorporated three channels: High Sensitivity Far-UV Channel: 120–200 nm; Channel for Surveys (FUV): 120–600 nm, optimized for 120–270 nm; Channel for Surveys (UVO): 120–600 nm, optimized for 270–600 nm (Spain). Due to financial problems, Spain canceled ISSIS, and limited participation in Spektr-UV program to ground segment and supply of detectors for FCU. Russia replaced ISSIS with FCU.

^{[6] [7]}

History

In October 2012, tests of antennas for the space telescope were completed.^[8]

In July 2019, INASAN selected the first seven experiments to be performed by the observatory.^[9]

Participating nations

Spektr-UV is an international project led by Russia (Roscosmos).At present the international cooperation includes three basic participants: Russia (will provide the telescope, spacecraft, launch facilities, ground segment); Spain (FCU detectors, ground segment); Japan (UVSPEX).

See also

• List of proposed space observatories

External links

• WSO-UV web-site

Notes and References

1. Web site: В Институте астрономии РАН заявили, что обсерваторию "Спектр-УФ" не запустят до 2030 года . The Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences said that the Spektr-UV observatory will not be launched until 2030 . . 21 December 2023 . 27 December 2023 . ru.
2. Web site: Zak . Anatoly . Spektr-UF . RussianSpaceWeb . 30 December 2022 . 5 February 2023.
3. Web site: World Space Observatory - Ultraviolet . WSO-UV (Spain) . 2015 . 2016-10-25.
4. Web site: World Space Observatory for the Ultra-Violet (WSO/UV). 2010-03-15 . Universität Tübingen .
5. Web site: Ученый рассказал о новом контракте на создание обсерватории "Спектр-УФ" . Scientist discusses new contract for the creation of the Spektr-UV observatory . . 2021-10-15 . 2021-10-15 . ru.
6. "WORLD SPACE OBSERVATORY – ULTRAVIOLET USER’S HAND BOOK" https://wso-jcuva.ucm.es/WSO.UsersBook_rev_es.pdf
7. Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение науки ИНСТИТУТ АСТРОНОМИИ РОССИЙСКОЙ АКАДЕМИИ НАУК Сборник трудов мемориальной конференции 2018 г., посвященной памяти академика А.А. Боярчука p.346-410 http://www.inasan.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Boyarchuk.pdf
8. Web site: Завершены испытания антенн космического телескопа "Спектр-УФ" . Testing of the antennas for the Spektr-UV space telescope has been completed . 2012-10-17 . 2019-10-22 . ru.
9. Web site: Russian scientists have selected seven experiments for Spektr-UV space telescope project . . 2019-07-06 . 2020-03-15.