CATCH: chasing all transients constellation hunters space mission

• Published in: Experimental astronomy Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 447 - 486
• Main Authors: Li, Panping, Yin, Qian-Qing, Li, Zhengwei, Tao, Lian, Wen, Xiangyang, Zhang, Shuang-Nan, Qi, Liqiang, Zhang, Juan, Zhao, Donghua, Li, Dalin, Yu, Xizheng, Bu, Qingcui, Chen, Wen, Chen, Yupeng, Huang, Yiming, Huang, Yue, Jin, Ge, Li, Gang, Liu, Hongbang, Liu, Xiaojing, Ma, Ruican, Peng, Wenxi, Tang, Ruijing, Wang, Yusa, Xiao, Jingyu, Xiong, Shaolin, Yang, Sheng, Yang, Yanji, Zhang, Chen, Zhang, Tianchong, Zhang, Liang, Zhang, Xuan, Zhao, Haisheng, Zhao, Kang, Zhao, Qingchang, Zhao, Shujie, Zhou, Xing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.04.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astronomy; Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Computer Science; Geometrical optics; Microsatellites; Observations and Techniques; Observatories; Original Article; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Satellite constellations; Satellites; Space missions; Statistics for Engineering; Transients (astronomy); X ray optics; Astronomy X-ray constellation; Time-domain astronomy; Follow-up observations
• ISSN: 0922-6435; 1572-9508
• DOI: 10.1007/s10686-022-09879-0

In time-domain astronomy, a substantial number of transients will be discovered by multi-wavelength and multi-messenger observatories, posing a great challenge for follow-up capabilities. We have thus proposed an intelligent X-ray constellation, the Chasing All Transients Constellation Hunters ( CATCH ) space mission. Consisting of 126 micro-satellites in three types, CATCH will have the capability to perform follow-up observations for a large number of different types of transients simultaneously. Each satellite in the constellation will carry lightweight X-ray optics and use a deployable mast to increase the focal length. The combination of different optics and detector systems enables different types of satellites to have multiform observation capabilities, including timing, spectroscopy, imaging, and polarization. Controlled by the intelligent system, different satellites can cooperate to perform uninterrupted monitoring, all-sky follow-up observations, and scanning observations with a flexible field of view (FOV) and multi-dimensional observations. Therefore, CATCH will be a powerful mission to study the dynamic universe. Here, we present the current design of the spacecraft, optics, detector system, constellation configuration and observing modes, as well as the development plan.