LiteBIRD

LiteBIRD
Mission typeSpace observation
OperatorJAXA / ISAS
Websitewww.isas.jaxa.jp/en/missions/spacecraft/future/litebird.html
Mission durationPlanned: 3 years
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerInstitute of Space and Astronautical Science
Dry massApprox. 450 kg [1]
Power< 500 W [1]
Start of mission
Launch date2032 (planned)[2]
RocketH3
Launch siteTanegashima LA-Y2
ContractorMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Main
DiameterLFT: 40 cm[3]
HFT: 20 cm[3]
Focal length~1,100 mm [4]
Transponders
Capacity10 Gb/day [1]
Instruments
Superconducting polarimeters
Large-class Missions
← MMX

LiteBIRD (Lite (Light) satellite for the studies of B-mode polarization and Inflation from cosmic background Radiation Detection) is a planned small space observatory that aims to detect the footprint of the primordial gravitational wave on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) in a form of polarization pattern called B-mode.

LiteBIRD and OKEANOS were the two finalists for Japan's second Large-Class Mission.[5][6] In May 2019, LiteBIRD was selected by the Japanese space agency.[7] LiteBIRD is planned to be launched in 2032 with an H3 launch vehicle for three years of observations at the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point L2.[2][8]

  1. ^ a b c LiteBIRD: a small satellite for the study of B-mode polarization and inflation from cosmic background radiation detection. M. Hazumi; J. Borrill; Y. Chinone; M. A. Dobbs; H. Fuke; A. Ghribi, aetal. Proceedings Volume 8442, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave; 844219 (2012). Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands 21 September 2012. doi:10.1117/12.926743
  2. ^ a b "The origin of the Universe will be unveiled by the LiteBIRD cryogenic satellite". Grenoble Alpes University. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Suzuki 2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Mission design of LiteBIRD. T. Matsumura, Y Akiba, J. Borrill, etal. arXive repository. Filed: 12 November 2013.
  5. ^ Concept design of the LiteBIRD satellite for CMB B-mode polarization. Y. Sekimoto; P. Ade; K. Arnold; J. Aumont; J. Austermann, etal. Proceedings Volume 10698, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave; 106981Y (2018) doi:10.1117/12.2313432 Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 9 August 2018, Austin, Texas, United States.
  6. ^ INVESTIGATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM DISK STRUCTURE DURING THE CRUISING PHASE OF THE SOLAR POWER SAIL MISSION. (PDF). T. Iwata, T. Okada, S. Matsuura, K. Tsumura, H. Yano, T. Hirai, A. Matsuoka, R. Nomura, D. Yonetoku, T. Mihara, Y. Kebukawa, M. ito, M. Yoshikawa, J. Matsu-moto, T. Chujo, and O. Mori. 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2083).
  7. ^ Goda, Roku (May 22, 2019). "宇宙最古の光、捉えられるか ＪＡＸＡ、衛星打ち上げへ". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  8. ^ Montier, L. (10 July 2019). "LiteBIRD Overview" (PDF). IN2P3. Retrieved 29 April 2021.