ABSTRACT. The Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO), the X-ray component of NASA's Great Observatories, was launched on 1999 July 23 by the space shuttle Columbia. After satellite systems activation, the first X-rays focused by the telescope were observed on 1999 August 12. Beginning with the initial observation it was clear that the telescope had survived the launch environment and was operating as expected. Despite an initial surprise due to the discovery that the telescope was far more efficient for concentrating CCD-damaging low-energy protons than had been anticipated, the observatory is performing well and is returning superb scientific data. Together with other space observatories, most notably XMM-Newton, it is clear that we have entered a new era of discovery in high-energy astrophysics.

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO), the x-ray component of NASA's Great Observatories, was launched early in the morning of 1999, July 23 by the Space Shuttle Columbia. The Shuttle launch was only the first step in placing the observatory in orbit. After release from the cargo bay, the Inertial Upper Stage performed two firings, and separated from the observatory as planned. Finally, after five firings of Chandra's own Integral Propulsion System -the last of which took place 15 days after launch -the observatory was placed in its highly elliptical orbit of ∼140,000 km apogee and ∼10,000 km perigee. After activation, the first x-rays focussed by the telescope were observed on 1999, August 12. Beginning with these initial observations one could see that the telescope had survived the launch environment and was operating as expected. The month following the opening of the sunshade door was spent adjusting the focus for each set of instrument configurations, determining the optical axis, calibrating the star camera, establishing the relative response functions, determining energy scales, and taking a series of "publicity" images. Each observation proved to be far more revealing than was expected. Finally, and despite an initial surprise and setback due to the discovery that the Chandra x-ray telescope was far more efficient for concentrating low-energy protons than had been anticipated, the observatory is performing well and is returning superb scientific data. Together with other space observatories, most notably the recently activated XMM-Newton, it is clear that we are entering a new era of discovery in high-energy astrophysics.

No abstract

Efficiencies for diffraction of 45-275-eV x rays into orders by interferometrically formed, electrodeposited, gold transmission gratings have been measured on the 4 degrees beam line at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Project (SSRP). Anomalous dispersion affects the observed efficiency since the gold is partially transmitting to x rays. Model calculations which include anomalous dispersion are in good agreement with observations. With a suitable choice of material and thickness, a grating can be optimized for a given wavelength range by reducing the zero order transmission and enhancing the higher orders. Even orders are suppressed for a grating with equal slit and wire sizes.

No abstract