At the meeting of the Space Development and Utilization Subcommittee of the Science and Technology Council, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, we reported on the operational status of XRISM. To ensure the successful completion of the mission, maximize its scientific output, and continue assessing the possibility of opening the gate valve (GV), the project period has been extended. The XRISM’s nominal operation phase is expected to continue for approximately 3.5 years, through March 2030.

Note: Gate Valve (GV): 

The GV is the protective cover for Resolve, XRISM’s high-resolution spectrometer, mainly when on the ground. It was not opened during the initial post-launch operations. Although an operation to open the GV was attempted in September 2025, the GV remains closed.