X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM)

The X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), which was formerly known as XARM, is a JAXA/NASA collaborative mission, with ESA participation. The objective of the mission is to investigate celestial X-ray objects in the Universe with high-throughput imaging and high-resolution spectroscopy. XRISM was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center at 8:42 a.m on September 7, 2023 JST in Japan (23:42 on September 6, 2023 UT).

The XRISM payload consists of two instruments:

• Resolve, a soft X-ray spectrometer, which combines a lightweight X-ray Mirror Assembly (XMA) paired with an X-ray calorimeter spectrometer, and provides non-dispersive 5-7 eV energy resolution in the 0.3-12 keV bandpass with a field of view of about 3 arcmin.
• Xtend, a soft X-ray imager, is an array of four CCD detectors that extend the field of the observatory to 38 arcmin on a side over the energy range 0.4-13 keV, using an identical lightweight X-ray Mirror Assembly.

Their characteristics are similar to the SXS and SXI, respectively, flown on Hitomi. XRISM is designed to resume and recover most of the the science capability lost with the Hitomi mishap, focusing only on the soft X-ray bands. (Hitomi's high energy instruments, HXI and SGD, have no counterparts in XRISM.)

NASA/GSFC develops the Resolve detector system and many of its subsystems together with the X-ray Mirror Assemblies. NASA/GSFC is also responsible for the Science Data Center, which is developing the analysis software for all instruments, the data processing pipeline, as well as support of Guest Observers and the XRISM Guest Observer (GO) Program.

This site is intended primarily for researchers who are interested in XRISM data. Members of the general public, students, and teachers are invited to visit the Students/Teachers/Public section and follow the links.

If you have questions regarding XRISM, concerning, e.g., calibration, analysis, proposing, ToOs, or coordination, please use HEASARC's Feedback form , or click the "HELP" icon to the left.

To subscribe to the mailing list for announcements relevant to the XRISM community of general observers, send an email with 'subscribe' in the subject to xrism-announcements-join@lists.nasa.gov.

XRISM Site for the Public at NASA

Latest News

• XRISM Caldb Correction (18 Mar 2025)
  The XRISM caldb.indx file released as part of the 20250315 XRISM Resolve caldb release was incorrect. The correct caldb.indx file is now installed in the XRISM Resolve CALDB, and the tar files updated. Please replace previously downloaded versions of the caldb.indx20250315 in the $CALDB/data/xrism/resolve/index directory with the corrected version.
• XRISM Cycle 2 call for GO proposals: (17 Mar 2025)
  The XRISM Cycle 2 call for GO proposals has been announced and is now open. The due date for XRISM Cycle 2 proposal submission is May 15, 2025. See the Proposals and Tools webpage for more information.
• XRISM Caldb Update (15 Mar 2025)
  An update to the XRISM Caldb for the Resolve, XTEND and gen instruments is now available. Tar files can be downloaded from the XRISM Calibration page.
• XRISM Caldb Update (11 Nov 2024)
  An update to the XRISM Caldb for the Resolve, XTEND and gen instruments is now available. Tar files can be downloaded from the XRISM Calibration page.
• The 3rd XRISM Community Workshop: Feb 3-5, 2025: (18 Oct 2024)
  This workshop is to discuss data analysis techniques and prepare the astronomical community for the upcoming Cycle 2 General Observer Call for Proposals for XRISM. There is no registration fee; however, registration is required. Deadline for in-person participation is Dec 12, 2024.

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