Abstract
India has an expanding program in using space as a platform for research. Astrophysics research from satellites increasingly complement ground-based observations with unique wavelength coverage, more frequent temporal coverage and diffraction-limited observations. India’s first dedicated space astronomy mission, AstroSat has completed five years in orbit and continues to generate important results. Most onboard systems are healthy and the mission is expected to continue to operate for many more years. Plans for space astronomy missions beyond AstroSat, are under discussion for some time. These are based on responses from the Indian research community to an announcement of Opportunity call in early 2018. Here we discuss, an outline of the science focus of future space astronomy missions, under consideration.
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Important contributions made by the Payload Shortlisting Committee and the Apex Science Board towards identification of priority proposals for future astronomy missions, are gratefully acknowledged.
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This article is part of the Special issue on “AstroSat: Five Years in Orbit”.
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Sreekumar, P., Koteswara Rao, V. Beyond AstroSat: Astronomy missions under review. J Astrophys Astron 42, 78 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-021-09744-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-021-09744-0