Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools used in a wide range of scientific fields from planetary science to astronomy. We propose a future UV space telescope, LAPYUTA (Life-environmentology, Astronomy, and PlanetarY Ultraviolet Telescope Assembly), selected as a candidate for JAXA’s 6th M-class mission in 2023. Launch is planned for the early 2030s. LAPYUTA will accomplish the following four objectives related to two scientific goals: understanding (1) the habitable environment and (2) the origin of structure and matter in the universe. Objective 1 focuses on the subsurface ocean environments of Jupiter's icy moons and the atmospheric evolution of terrestrial planets. Objective 2 characterizes the atmosphere of the exoplanets around the habitable zone and estimates their surface environment by detecting their exospheric atmosphere. In cosmology and astronomy, Objective 3 tests whether the structures of presentday galaxies contain ubiquitous Ly-α halos and reveals the physical origins of Ly-α halos. Objective 4 elucidates the synthesis process of heavy elements based on observations of ultraviolet radiation from hot gas immediately after neutronstar mergers. LAPYUTA will perform spectroscopic and imaging observations in the far-UV range of 110-190 nm with an effective area of >300 cm2 and a high spatial resolution of 0.1 arcsec. The apogee is 2,000 km, and the perigee is 1,000 km to avoid the influence of the geocorona when observing oxygen and hydrogen atoms and the Earth's radiation belt.
Solar-C (EUVST) is the next Japanese solar physics mission to be developed with significant contributions from US and European countries. The mission carries an EUV imaging spectrometer with slit-jaw imaging system called EUVST (EUV High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope) as the mission payload, to take a fundamental step towards answering how the plasma universe is created and evolves and how the Sun influences the Earth and other planets in our solar system. In April 2020, ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science) of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) has made the final down-selection for this mission as the 4th in the series of competitively chosen M-class mission to be launched with an Epsilon launch vehicle in mid 2020s. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has selected this mission concept for Phase A concept study in September 2019 and is in the process leading to final selection. For European countries, the team has (or is in the process of confirming) confirmed endorsement for hardware contributions to the EUVST from the national agencies. A recent update to the mission instrumentation is to add a UV spectral irradiance monitor capability for EUVST calibration and scientific purpose. This presentation provides the latest status of the mission with an overall description of the mission concept emphasizing on key roles of the mission in heliophysics research from mid 2020s.
Solar-C EUVST (EUV High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope) is a solar physics mission concept that was selected as a candidate for JAXA competitive M-class missions in July 2018. The onboard science instrument, EUVST, is an EUV spectrometer with slit-jaw imaging system that will simultaneously observe the solar atmosphere from the photosphere/chromosphere up to the corona with seamless temperature coverage, high spatial resolution, and high throughput for the first time. The mission is designed to provide a conclusive answer to the most fundamental questions in solar physics: how fundamental processes lead to the formation of the solar atmosphere and the solar wind, and how the solar atmosphere becomes unstable, releasing the energy that drives solar flares and eruptions. The entire instrument structure and the primary mirror assembly with scanning and tip-tilt fine pointing capability for the EUVST are being developed in Japan, with spectrograph and slit-jaw imaging hardware and science contributions from US and European countries. The mission will be launched and installed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit by a JAXA Epsilon vehicle in 2025. ISAS/JAXA coordinates the conceptual study activities during the current mission definition phase in collaboration with NAOJ and other universities. The team is currently working towards the JAXA final down-selection expected at the end of 2019, with strong support from US and European colleagues. The paper provides an overall description of the mission concept, key technologies, and the latest status.
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