XRISM X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission │ JAXA

Project

Message

Mission of XRISM

Once the XRISM spacecraft began outputting observation data, time passed quickly, and we reached the end of the initially planned period of nominal operations. During this time, researchers both domestically and internationally have been working on studies using unprecedented new XRISM observational data, achieving groundbreaking scientific results. In light of this situation, we have decided to extend the project and continue nominal operations until March 2030. Learning from the failure of the ASTRO-H spacecraft, which ended after only about one month, we began working operation preparations for XRISM from the early stages of the project. As a result, we have been able to continue steady spacecraft operations and science operations, but personally, I do not feel much of a sense of accomplishment. That is because I believe that groundbreaking XRISM can still accomplish many more amazing things. Now that we have been approved to maintain the scale of our activities through the extension of the XRISM project, we will do our utmost to continue producing many more results that will make the world say, “Wow!”

XRISM
Project Manager

Shin WATANABE, Ph. D.

XRISM: Entering a New Stage

On September 7, 2026, XRISM celebrated the third anniversary of its launch. Observations over the past three years have yielded groundbreaking results across a broad range of topics, including the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe, the coevolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes, stellar evolution and explosions, the chemical evolution of the Universe, and plasma physics. At the same time, many unexpected discoveries have brought new scientific questions to light. To address these questions, XRISM will pursue new initiatives, including strategic large-scale observing programs, alongside its regular Guest Observer programs. Through these efforts, we aim to build a scientific legacy that will continue to shape astrophysics for decades to come. We look forward to sharing the discoveries that await XRISM as it enters this exciting new stage!

XRISM
Mission Principal Investigator

Hiroya YAMAGUCHI, Ph. D.

A New Era in X-Ray Astronomy

The X-ray mirror, X-ray CCD, and X-ray microcalorimeter aboard XRISM represent the culmination of approximately half a century of technological development. This sustained effort—spanning a period comparable to the history of X-ray astronomy itself—has finally come to fruition in XRISM, opening a powerful new window onto the universe. XRISM is revealing previously unseen details of celestial objects across an extraordinary range of scales and environments. Its observations probe extreme phenomena around black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs, while also tracing the motions of vast reservoirs of hot plasma extending over more than 10 million light-years. With the mission extension, XRISM will continue to deepen our understanding of these remarkable cosmic systems and pursue new scientific opportunities. We invite you to follow and share in this continuing story of discoveries—and of the new mysteries that inevitably emerge with them.

XRISM
Mission Scientist

Makoto S. TASHIRO, Ph. D.

Development Plan

The project is progressing to open up a new world of high resolution X-ray spectroscopy.

2017
project study
2018
start project, basic design/ detailed design
2019
detailed design/ production and test of instruments/ spacecraft assembly
2020
spacecraft assembly/ proto flight test
2022
proto flight test/ launch campaign
2023
Lift-off
2024
Transition to Nominal Operations / Start of Guest Observations
2026
Project and Operations Extension Approved
X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/J.DePasquale; IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech; Optical: NASA/STScI

List of participating institutions

XRISM is an international collaborative project led by JAXA under agreements with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA). In particular, JAXA and NASA conduct XRISM as a joint project, working in close collaboration across all aspects of the mission.
In addition to the three space agencies, many researchers from universities and research institutions in Japan, the United States, and Europe participate in the project, contributing to activities such as instrument calibration and the development of data-processing software.

  • JAXA(Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
  • NASA(National Aeronautics and Space Agency)
  • ESA(European Space Agency)
  • Tohoku University
  • Tohoku Gakuin University
  • High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)
  • Shibaura Institute of Technology
  • Saitama University
  • RIKEN
  • The University of Tokyo
  • Tokyo University of Science
  • Rikkyo University
  • Chuo University
  • Meiji University
  • Tokyo Metropolitan University
  • Kanto Gakuin University
  • University of Toyama
  • Kanazawa University
  • Shizuoka University
  • Nagoya University
  • Fujita Health University
  • Nihon Fukushi University
  • Kyoto University
  • Kyoto Sangyo University
  • Nara Women’s University
  • Nara University of Education
  • Osaka University
  • Osaka Gakuin University
  • Kindai University
  • Konan University
  • Hiroshima University
  • Ehime University
  • University of Teacher Education Fukuoka
  • Kumamoto Gakuen University
  • University of Miyazaki
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • Neitherlands Institute for Space Research

Member

Steering Members

Shin Watanabe
Project Manager
ISAS/JAXA
Hiroya Yamaguchi
Principal Investigator
ISAS/JAXA
Makoto S. Tashiro
Mission Scientist
Saitama University
Kyoko Matsushita
Project Scientist
Tokyo University of Science
Hirofumi Noda
deputy Project Scientist
ISAS/JAXA
Richard Kelley
Co-Principal Investigator
NASA/GSFC
Robert Petre
Mission Scientist
NASA/GSFC
Brian Williams
Project Scientist
NASA/GSFC
Matteo Guainazzi
Project Scientist
ESA
Elisa Costantini
Deputy Project Scientist
SRON

Resolve

Yoshitaka Ishisaki
Instrument PI
Tokyo Metropolitan University
Ryuichi Fujimoto
Instrument sub-PI
ISAS/JAXA
Yuusuke Uchida
Instrument sub-PI
ISAS/JAXA
Yoshitomo Maeda
Instrument Scientist
ISAS/JAXA
Masahiro Tsujimoto
Instrument Scientist
ISAS/JAXA
Richard Kelley
Instrument PI
NASA/GSFC
Gary Sneiderman
Lead Instrument Systems Engineer
NASA/GSFC
Caroline Kilbourne
Instrument Scientist
NASA/GSFC
Scott Porter
Instrument Scientist
NASA/GSFC
Takashi Okajima
Instrument Scientist
NASA/GSFC
Megan Eckart
Instrument Calibration lead
LLNL

Xtend

Koji Mori
Instrument PI
Miyazaki University
Hiroshi Nakajima
Instrumet Deputy-PI
Kanto Gakuin University
Yoshitomo Maeda
Instrument Scientist
ISAS/JAXA
Takashi Okajima
Instrument Scientist
NASA/GSFC

Science/Mission Operations

Yukikatsu Terada
Science Operation Center Lead
Saitama University, ISAS/JAXA
Yoshiaki Kanemaru
Mission Operations Lead
ISAS/JAXA
Yuusuke Uchida
SOC Duty Scientist
ISAS/JAXA
Tomokage Yoneyama
SOC Duty Scientist
ISAS/JAXA
Yuki Omiya
SOC Duty Scientist
ISAS/JAXA
Asca Miyamoto
SOC Duty Scientist
ISAS/JAXA
Tomohiro Hakamata
SOC Duty Scientist
ISAS/JAXA
Michael Loewenstein
Science Data Center Science Lead
NASA/GSFC
Edmund Hodges-Kluck
SDC Product Development Lead
NASA/GSFC
Koji Mukai
Guest Observer Facility Lead
NASA/GSFC
Chris Baluta
Science Operation Team Schedular
NASA/GSFC
Felix Meeker-Fuerst
ESA XRISM Science Operations Coordinator
ESA/ESAC

In Flight Calibration Planning

Eric Miller
Lead
MIT
Makoto Sawada
co-Lead (NASA)
Rikkyo University

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