New research grant for X-ray observatory to examine the Universe
OU researchers have been awarded £979,000 from the UK Space Agency to develop an X-ray observatory to get clearer images of the Universe.
The grant will allow the OU team led by Dr David Hall, Senior Lecturer in Physical Sciences, to continue their research into the European Space Agency Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics (ATHENA), a large-scale mission to develop the next generation of X-ray observatory, which is due for launch in 2032.
The grant will run from April 2019 to March 2022 and address questions like:
- How does ordinary matter assemble into the large-scale structures we see today?
- How do black holes grow and shape the Universe?
“The funding will allow us to continue to develop the graded-Z radiation shielding for the Athena Wide Field Imager, contributing to the reduction in radiation background so that the instrument can achieve its science goals when subjected to the radiation environment in orbit,” said Dr Hall.
The OU team collaborated with Scherrer Institute, Switzerland on this project.
Contact our news team
For all out of hours enquiries, please telephone +44 (0)7901 515891
Contact detailsNews & articles
Can care build a better economy?
The Open University hosted its third lecture in its Global Development Annual Lecture series on 22 October 2026, delivered by Naila Kabeer, Professor Emeritus at the London School of Economics, a faculty member of their International Inequalities Institute, and on the government board of the Atlantic Fellowship for Social and Economic Equity.
Explore
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Policy
-
Follow us on Social media
-
