XMM-Newton 22nd Anniversary

XMM-Newton was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999.

It is a space laboratory focused on observing the universe in X-rays  and has been one of the most successful astronomy missions launched by ESA (European Space Agency).

It is composed of three telescopes equipped with imaging cameras and spectrometers that operate simultaneously, together with a co-aligned optical telescope. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations.

XMM-Newton is the biggest science satellite ever built in Europe. Its telescope mirrors are the most sensitive ever developed in the world, and with its sensitive detectors, it sees much more than any previous X-ray satellite. 

Since its launch in 1999, the spacecraft has helped scientists to investigate a number of mysterious cosmic phenomena, such as:

• the interaction of black holes with their surroundings
• the explosion of supernovae and their remnants
• the origin of the powerful gamma-ray bursts
• the hot gas filling the space between galaxies throughout the Universe
• the evolution of the Universe itself by looking back to its origin

Many scientific achievements have been reached to date: the discovery that the black hole in galaxy MCG-6-30-15, the proof of gravitational pull of a neutron star on the X-rays trying to escape from it, the proof that supernovae can cause gamma-ray bursts by detecting the tell-tale signature of an exploding star in the X-ray emission coming from the gamma-ray burst of 11 December 2001, the creation of a catalogue with more than 600000 objects,  …

Despite its planned 10-year lifetime, it is still collecting data, allowing astronomers to increase their knowledge of the most energetic Universe.

More information in the following link:

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/XMM-Newton_overview