SAX (Satellite Astronomia Raggio-X) is the X-Ray Astronomy Satellite selected by the
Italian National Space Plan for inclusion in the Science Plan. The objective of the
mission is to perform spectroscopic and time variability studies of celestial X-ray
sources in the energy band from 1 to 200 keV. including an all-sky monitoring
investigation of transients in the 2-30 keV.energy range. The payload includes the
following narrow-field detectors coaligned to a common pointing axis:
- four X-ray imaging concentrators sensitive from 1 to 10 keV.(one of them extending down
to 0.1 keV.,
- one gas scintillation proportional counter sensitive from 3 to 12 keV. and
- a sodium iodide scintillator crystal in phoswich configuration operating from 15 to 200
keV.
At 90 deg to the axis of the narrow field instruments is an array of three identical
wide field camera units sensitive from 2 to 30 keV. The SAX mission payload and science
program is under the responsibility of a consortium of Italian institutes together with
institutes from Holland.
The onboard experiments are:
- Narrow Field X-ray Imaging Concentrators
- Narrow Field Sodium Iodine Scintillation Detector
- Wide Field Multiwire Proportional Counter Camera
- Narrow Field Gas Scintillation Proportional Counter (PHOSWICH)
After reaching orbit, SAX was renamed BeppoSAX. BeppoSAX decayed from orbit on April,
29. 2003.
.png)
