Extreme Universe Space Observatory
Encyclopedia
The Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO) is the first Space mission concept devoted to the investigation of cosmic ray
s and neutrinos of extreme energy
. Using the Earth's atmosphere as a giant detector, the detection is performed by looking at the streak of fluorescence
produced when such a particle interacts with the Earth's atmosphere.
EUSO was a mission of the European Space Agency
, designed to be hosted on the International Space Station
as an external payload of the Columbus
. EUSO successfully completed the "Phase A" study, however because of programmatic and financial constraints the mission was not continued by ESA. The mission was then re-oriented as a payload to be hosted on board the JEM module
of the Japanese KIBO facility of the ISS. The mission was then renamed JEM-EUSO. JEM-EUSO is currently studied by RIKEN
and JAXA in collaboration with other 60 institutions from 12 countries in view of a flight in 2015.
Cosmic ray
Cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating from outer space. They may produce secondary particles that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The term ray is historical as cosmic rays were thought to be electromagnetic radiation...
s and neutrinos of extreme energy
Ultra-high-energy cosmic ray
In astroparticle physics, an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray or extreme-energy cosmic ray is a cosmic ray with an extreme kinetic energy, far beyond both its rest mass and energies typical of other cosmic rays....
. Using the Earth's atmosphere as a giant detector, the detection is performed by looking at the streak of fluorescence
Fluorescence
Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation of a different wavelength. It is a form of luminescence. In most cases, emitted light has a longer wavelength, and therefore lower energy, than the absorbed radiation...
produced when such a particle interacts with the Earth's atmosphere.
EUSO was a mission of the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
, designed to be hosted on the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
as an external payload of the Columbus
Columbus (ISS module)
Columbus is a science laboratory that is part of the International Space Station and is the largest single contribution to the ISS made by the European Space Agency ....
. EUSO successfully completed the "Phase A" study, however because of programmatic and financial constraints the mission was not continued by ESA. The mission was then re-oriented as a payload to be hosted on board the JEM module
Japanese Experiment Module
The Japanese Experiment Module , also known with the nickname , is a Japanese science module for the International Space Station developed by JAXA. It is the largest single ISS module. The first two pieces of the module were launched on space shuttle missions STS-123 and STS-124...
of the Japanese KIBO facility of the ISS. The mission was then renamed JEM-EUSO. JEM-EUSO is currently studied by RIKEN
RIKEN
is a large natural sciences research institute in Japan. Founded in 1917, it now has approximately 3000 scientists on seven campuses across Japan, the main one in Wako, just outside Tokyo...
and JAXA in collaboration with other 60 institutions from 12 countries in view of a flight in 2015.
External links
- Official ESA EUSO webpage
- Riken JEM-EUSO webpage