The space infrared telescope for cosmology and astrophysics: SPICA A joint mission between JAXA and ESA

Bruce Swinyard, Takao Nakagawa, Patrick Merken, Pierre Royer, Tim Souverijns, Bart Vandenbussche, Christoffel Waelkens, Peter Davis, James Di Francesco, Mark Halpern, Martin Houde, Doug Johnstone, Gilles Joncas, David Naylor, Rene Plume, Douglas Scott, A. Abergel, S. Bensammar, J. Braine, V. BuatD. Burgarella, Ph Cais, H. Dole, L. Duband, D. Elbaz, M. Gerin, M. Giard, J. Goicoechea, C. Joblin, A. Jones, J. P. Kneib, G. Lagache, S. Madden, R. Pons, F. Pajot, D. Rambaud, L. Ravera, I. Ristorcelli, L. Rodriguez, S. Vives, A. Zavagno, Norbert Geis, Oliver Krause, Dieter Lutz, Albrecht Poglitsch, Walfried Raab, Jutta Stegmaier, Eckhard Sturm, Richard Tuffs, Hyung Mok Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The Space Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA) is planned to be the next space astronomy mission observing in the infrared. The mission is planned to be launched in 2017 and will feature a 3.5 m telescope cooled to <5 K through the use of mechanical coolers. These coolers will also cool the focal plane instruments thus avoiding the use of consumables and giving the mission a long lifetime. SPICA's large, cold aperture will provide a two order of magnitude sensitivity advantage over current far infrared facilities (>30 microns wavelength). We describe the scientific advances that will be made possible by this large increase in sensitivity and give details of the mission, spacecraft and focal plane conceptual design.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)193-219
Number of pages27
JournalExperimental Astronomy
Volume23
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2009

Keywords

  • Infrared
  • Space missions

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