Future ultraviolet space telescope mission LAPYUTA

We are pleased to welcome Fuminori Tsuchiya (Tohoku University), who will present a future JAXA M-class mission: Environmentology, Astronomy, and Planetary Ultraviolet Telescope Assembly (LAPYUTA).
It’s a far-UV space telescope with a broad science case, from the Solar System and exoplanets to nearby galaxies and neutron star mergers.

Abstract:
Life-Environmentology, Astronomy, and Planetary Ultraviolet Telescope Assembly (LAPYUTA) is a future ultraviolet (UV) space telescope selected as a candidate for JAXA’s M-class mission, with its launch planned for the early 2030s. LAPYUTA has four primary objectives: (1) investigating the upper atmospheres of solar system planets, (2) characterizing the atmospheres of exoplanets in and around the habitable zone, (3) revealing the structures of present-day galaxies, and (4) understanding the synthesis processes of heavy elements through observations of neutron star mergers.
The key to addressing these scientific goals is measuring the physical states of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. These elements are ubiquitous in the universe and crucial for understanding the structure and evolution of the cosmos across various spatial scales—from planets to stars and galaxies. UV spectroscopy and imaging are optimal for measuring these physical states.
To achieve these goals, LAPYUTA will perform spectroscopic and imaging observations in the far-ultraviolet (FUV) spectral range (110–190 nm) with a large effective area (> 300cm^2) and a high spatial resolution (0.1 arcsec). The mission payload consists of a Cassegrain telescope with a 60-cm aperture primary mirror and three focal plane instruments: a medium-dispersion spectrograph (MRS), a high-dispersion spectrograph (HRS), and a UV slit imager (UVSI). To achieve a large 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 system, while also studying the structural concept of the telescope. Furthermore, some of these key technologies will serve as stepping stones for future participation in the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).