The EXOSS mission for hard X-ray astronomy

Abstract

We describe the basis for an Energetic X‐ray Observatory on Space Station (EXOSS), which has been accepted by NASA as a Concept Study for the Space Station Attached Payloads program. With its high sensitivity, EXOSS will complement the capabilities of AXAF and GRO by covering the important 10–300 keV energy range (with extended response from ∼3 keV–1 MeV). The principal scientific objectives of EXOSS will be to study in detail active galactic nuclei (AGN) and quasars (some 10,000) should be detectable) as well as compact galactic sources (accreting white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes) to probe both nonthermal and high temperature thermal phenomena and the fundamental nature of these objects. High energy imaging studies of diffuse sources, both supernova remnants and galaxy clusters, as well as surveys will also be conducted. As such, EXOSS will achieve many of the objectives of the major Hard X‐ray Imaging Facility (HXIF) for astrophysics proposed in the "Space Science in the 21st Century" report of the Space Science Board.

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