The ATHENA (Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics) mission is steadily progressing both in terms of system studies and technology developments. The mission is currently in Phase B1 and is maturing towards a successful mission adoption. This paper describes the mission status including the main accomplishments achieved during this phase in terms of convergence of system and technological aspects. An overview of the different system studies is given including the latest programmatic assumptions, emphasizing on the Mirror Assembly demonstration and the critical interfaces between the mirror and the different facilities that are being developed in tandem to the mission. The reference telescope design is also described based on the Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) technology. The main design choices are explained as well as the modelling performed to ensure that all technological and system level constraints are met from plate level all the way to the mirror assembly level. The resulting effective area performance and budgeting is briefly described and future improvements are identified.
The TES (Transition Edge Sensors) micro-calorimeter detector technology in the X-IFU instrument for ATHENA (Astrophyics of the Hot and Energetic universe - Europe’s next generation X-ray observatory ATHENA) will require cooling down to 50 mK, and a stable and quiet Electro-Magnetic and micro-vibrations environment. In order to achieve this temperature and environment, a cooling chain integrated in a compact cryostat with an optimized electromagnetic environment has to be developed. Critical technology developments are covered, such as mechanical cryocoolers, support structures, radiative and EMC shields, micro-vibrations reduction, and others.
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