China unveils ambitious space study projects

The Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, which launched from Gansu province earlier this year. (Photo/Xinhua)

China will launch several space projects, including a hard x-ray telescope for black hole studies, between 2014 and 2016, according to a senior Chinese astronomer.
Su Dingqiang, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and former president of the Chinese Astronomical Society, revealed some details regarding the hard x-ray modulation telescope (HXMT), China's first space telescope, on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the International Astronomical Union's 28th General Assembly.
The hard x-ray band is a key waveband for high-energy astrophysics studies. Hard x-rays originate mostly from regions close to black holes and have high penetrative power, making them important tools for studying physical processes in extreme conditions, such as high matter density and high energy density.
Su said China will develop another satellite, the dark matter particle explorer, to help detect high-energy electrons and gamma rays, as well as a telescope to study the solar magnetic field and a Sino-French joint mission to study gamma ray bursts.


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