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X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM)

Announcement

 XRISM's first light has been released!

The two instruments are performing exceptionally: Resolve reaching a spectral resolution of 5 eV (exceeding the 7 eV requirement) and Xtend performing as expected. More info here.

The Cycle 1 call for GO proposals has been announced (see the Proposals & Tools webpage.)

[Updated on Jan 5, 2024]

The XRISM Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page is now available. [Updated on March 29, 2024]
XRISM's Resolve instrument captured data from supernova remnant N132D from the first light of the mission. Inset at right is an image of N132D captured by XRISM's Xtend instrument. See also this article.

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.

XRISM Site for the Public at NASA

Latest News

  • 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.
  • First release of the XRISM Caldb (23 Aug 2024)
    The first release of the XRISM Caldb for the Resolve, XTEND and gen instruments is now available. Tar files can be downloaded from the XRISM Calibration page.
  • XRISM AO1 approved target list is now online (1 Aug 2024)
    The list of AO1 approved targets (in response to the XRISM Cycle 1 call for Type-1 proposals) is now publicly available on the XRISM Proposals webpage. A detailed email with panel evaluation will be sent separately to each proposer at a later stage.
  • XRISM tools available for Cycle 1 GO proposals (21 Feb 2024)
    The XRISM Proposer's Observatory Guide, response files and tools for GO proposal feasibility are now available. In addition, because the Resolve aperture door ("gate valve") has not yet opened, the exposure time limit for GO proposals has been increased to 300 ks per pointing. However, the overall limit per proposal is still 600 ks.
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