19 February 2021
The science targets for the Performance Verification (PV) phase of the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) have been selected, and can be viewed here. The PV phase of the XRISM mission will commence immediately following the post-launch checkout and initial calibration phases, and will last approximately six months. PV phase data will remain proprietary to the XRISM Science Team for a period of one year.
NASA will invite participation from the US astronomical community in the XRISM Guest Scientist (XGS) Program which appears in ROSES 2021 as Element D.12. Through the XGS Program, astronomers who are not members of the XRISM Science Team can apply to join the team in a limited role for specific targets (no more than one target per XGS participant). Funding will be provided for successful XGS applicants at US-based institutions. Further details regarding the XGS program, including the announcement of opportunity, will be provided later this year.