Mirror technology development for the International X-ray Observatory mission

Abstract

The International X-ray Observatory mission is a collaborative effort of NASA, ESA, and JAXA. It will have unprecedented capabilities in spectroscopy, imaging, timing and polarization measurement. A key enabling element of the mission is a flight mirror assembly providing unprecedented large effective area (3 m²) and high angular resolution of (5 arcseconds half-power diameter). In this paper we outline the conceptual design of the mirror assembly and development of technology to enable its construction.