2013-2014 X-ray Probe Study

NASA's Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS) Program established a Science and Technology Definition Team (STDT) to study concepts for a potential reduced-scale strategic spectroscopy X-ray mission with total mission cost less than $1B in FY 2013 constant year dollars. The X-ray Probe (XAP) STDT was constituted to assist the Astrophysics Division, through its PCOS Program Office, in developing a reference mission concept of high scientific, technical, and programmatic merit that would both address the X-ray science goals and program prioritizations of the Decadal Survey New World New Horizons (NWNH) for X-ray astrophysics and be executable within the Astrophysics Division's notional budget profile. For further details, see the Call for Letters of Application for Membership in the Science and Technology Definition Teams for Reduced Scale X-ray Mission Concepts.

The mission study was ended with the 2014 selection of the Athena mission in Europe, at which point NASA began efforts to partner with ESA on Athena. Please see the Athena study page for more information.

Announcing: XAP STDT Membership

PCOS is pleased to announce the names of the 16 members of the XAP STDT. There was a tremendous positive response from the community, thank you to all those who applied.

• XAP STDT Membership:
• Jay Bookbinder (CfA), Co-chair
• Niel Brandt (PSU)
• Laura Brenneman (CfA)
• Sebastian Heinz (U. Wisconsin)
• Ann Hornschemeier (NASA GSFC), Co-chair
• John Hughes (Rutgers)
• Hironori Matsumoto (Nagoya), ISAS/JAXA Representative
• Dan McCammon (U. Wisconsin)
• Richard Mushotzky (U. Maryland)
• Rachel Osten (STScI)
• Paul Plucinsky (CfA)
• Brian Ramsey (NASA MSFC)
• Christopher Reynolds (U. Maryland)
• Mark Schattenburg (MIT)
• Ex Officio:
• Robert Petre (NASA GSFC), XAP Study Scientist
• Rita Sambruna (NASA HQ), PCOS Program Scientist

Reference documents for the X-ray Probe Study

• X-ray Study Charter [PDF]
• 2013 X-ray Technology Roadmap [PDF]
• 2012 X-ray Astronomy Mission Architecting Study
• NASA Astrophysics Implementation Plan (April 15, 2013 version) [PDF]
• Athena+ white paper for ESA L2 selection (Nandra et al.)
• NRC New Worlds New Horizon Astro2010 Decadal Survey report