WSO/UV: World Space Observatory/Ultraviolet

Abstract

The World Space Observatory (WSO) concept was originally proposed at the 7th UN/ESA Workshop and formulated in the context of the needs of Basic Space Science in the developing countries. It was defined as a mutually beneficial and valid scientific mission for all scientists in the world and not confined only to the developing world. In the context of the Long Range Planning of the ESA, an Assessment Study was made, evaluating a WSO Mission for the ultraviolet domain (WSO/UV). The study was based on the characteristics defined during a meeting held in November 1999 between scientists who had expressed interest in a WSO/UV. The WSO/UV mission studied has the following characteristics: 1) Telescope: 1.7 m (T-170 Russian model; Boyarchuk et al. 1998, ESA SP-413, 809), PSF (550 nm): 0.2″; 2) Spectrograph for the UV only: primary 110–340 nm. (HIRDES German model; Kappelmann 1998, ESA SP-413, 831) with spectral resolution 5–6 × 10⁴; as well as a low resolution capability (500–1000); 3) Imaging: 115–340 nm with quality ≈ 0.1–0.3″ (MCP based Israelian model; Brosch 1998, ESA SP-413, 789); two UV Imagers: one for maximum spatial resolution, one for maximum sensitivity, and one Imager for visual domain; 4) High Earth Orbit. Further overall properties of the mission as a whole as described in the Report of the 8th UN/ESA Workshop The WSO/UV is an Astrophysical Observatory rather than a targeted mission for a single science goal, and it could be launched optimally in 2006/7. It fills an important gap in the capabilities available to the astronomical community (Wamsteker 1999, ASP. Conf. Ser., 164, 261; Panel Discussion WSO 1998, ESA SP-413, 849). Further information can be obtained from the author or at http://www.seas.columbia.edu/~ah297/um-esa/wso.html.