![]() Artist's impression of Xuntian space telescope | |
Mission type | Astronomy |
---|---|
Operator | CNSA |
COSPAR ID | |
Mission duration | 10+ years (planned) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Dry mass | 15,500 kilograms (34,200 lb)[1] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2023 (planned) |
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 Survey Space Telescope[2] or Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST) (Chinese: 巡天号空间望远镜) is a planned Chinese space telescope currently under development.[3] It will feature a 2 meter (6.6 foot) diameter primary mirror and is expected to have a field of view 300–350 times larger than the 32 year old Hubble Space Telescope.[4] 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 2023 on Long March 5B rocket to co-orbit with the Chinese space station in slightly different orbital phases, which will allow for periodic docking with the station.[5]
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.
- ^ Hu Zhan (2021-09-22). "The Chinese Survey Space Telescope" (PDF). National Astronomical Observatories. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
- ^ 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). CAS. 30 (6): 721–732. doi:10.16418/j.issn.1000-3045.2015.06.002. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Outgunning NASA's Hubble, China Claims Its Xuntian Telescope with 350-Fold Bigger View Can Unravel 'Cosmic Mysteries'". 8 May 2022.
- ^ 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.