Spektr-RG: the space observatory to better understand the mysteries of our Universe

Launch of the Proton Bloc DM-03 rocket on July 13, 2019, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan

Mission accomplished for the Proton-M rocket that was launched on July 13 from the Baikonur cosmodrome, carrying with it Spektr-RG, a real space observatory whose objective will be to identify the sources of X-rays and to study, in particular, clusters of galaxies, stars and black holes. 

Initially scheduled for June 21 and finally postponed twice, this launch allows Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, to pick up with its ambitions in the field of space observation after the loss of its only radio telescope last January. , Spektr-R, more often called RadioAstron.

A priority mission for Roscosmos

After facing a chaotic development of the project, repeatedly delayed, canceled, then resumed with scientific objectives revised down due to budgetary problems, Spektr-RG finally became one of Roscosmos' priorities in terms of space observation, especially since the loss of one of the largest radio telescopes in orbit, RadioAstron. 

This new space observatory was designed in collaboration with Germany, which provides, through the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, the main scientific instrument of this project, the eROSITAtelescope. The second telescope, ART-XChas been designed and developed by the Russians with support from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.

Blackhole formation, dark energy, and dark matter

Each equipped with seven mirrors, these two telescopes will work in tandem to perform a complete mapping of the sources of X-rays in the cosmos, a first since they will be able to establish a relatively comprehensive catalog with a level of detail never reached previously. The data collected by eROSITA will be supplemented by ART-XC, which will certainly have a reduced field of vision compared to the German instrument but will be able to analyze the radiation at a longer wavelength with a wider range.

Model of Spektr-RG presented at the Paris Air Show 

In this way, Russian and German researchers intend to count more than 100,000 galaxy clusters in the next seven years, but also more than 3 million supermassive black holes, many stars, and many other objects. According to Roscosmos, this deep analysis of the sky will also allow scientists to conduct new studies, to learn more about the very mysterious dark matter and dark energy and perhaps answer fundamental questions like those related to the acceleration of the expansion of the Universe.

The Russian Space Agency also announces that if the first four years of this mission will be devoted to scrutinizing the starry sky in detail, the world scientific community will then be consulted to observe punctually remarkable objects on demand.

See you in 100 days

Properly deployed in orbit, the craft began its journey of about 100 days to its final destination: it will position itself in a heliocentric orbit around the point Lagrange L 2. 

Once in place in this stable environment, Spektr-RG will be able to begin observations and accurately "scan" the sky by October 2019.