Large aperture cooled telescope (SPICA) for mid and far infrared astronomy

摘要

SPICA (Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics) is an infrared astronomical satellite with 3.5m cooled telescope which is very powerful in mid- and far- infrared observations and makes complementary role to JWST and Herschel. SPICA will be launched at ambient temperature without any cryogen into the Sun-Earth L2 orbit and cooled down in space to 4.5K with use of efficient radiative cooling and mechanical coolers. The present status of SPICA and the developments of the satellite system are reported.