Future ultraviolet space telescope mission LAPYUTA

Life-environmentology, Astronomy, and PlanetarY Ultraviolet Telescope Assembly (LAPYUTA) is a future ultraviolet (UV) space telescope that is selected as a candidate for JAXA's 6th M-class mission. Launch is planned for the early 2030s. LAPYUTA will perform spectroscopic and imaging observations in the far-ultraviolet spectral range (110-190 nm) with a large effective area (>300 cm²) and a high spatial resolution (0.1 arcsec). LAPYUTA has the following four objectives: (1) atmospheres of solar system planets, (2) atmospheres of exoplanets around the habitable zone, (3) structures of present-day galaxies, and (4) synthesis process of heavy elements from observations of neutron star mergers. The key to addressing these scientific goals is the measurement of the physical state of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. These elements are common in the universe and are involved in understanding the structure and evolution of the universe at various spatial scales, from planets to stars to galaxies, and UV spectral measurement is adequate for measuring the physical state of the elements. LAPYUTA aims to achieve resolution and sensitivity in the far-UV wavelength range comparable to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) while using JAXA’s small scientific satellite. The mission part consists of a Cassegrain telescope with a 60 cm aperture primary mirror, four focal plane instruments, a medium dispersion spectrograph (MRS), a high dispersion spectrograph (HRS), a UV slit imager (UVSI), and a wide-field fine guide sensor (FGS). To achieve a highly effective area and high angular resolution, we are developing three key technologies: UV mirror deposition, a large high-precision detector, and a pointing disturbance correction function, as well as studying the concept of the telescope structure. The key technologies for ultraviolet observations developed here will serve as a stepping stone for Japan's participation in the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).