The newAthena Space X-ray Observatory and the Life Cycle Assessment of its X-ray Integral Field Unit

The Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics (newAthena) is the third large-class mission of the European Space Agency’s Cosmic Vision science program. Designed to explore the Hot and Energetic Universe, newAthena will feature a large-aperture X-ray telescope and two complementary focal plane instruments: the Wide Field Imager (WFI) and the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU).

This presentation outlines the mission’s primary scientific objectives, including the study of the formation and evolution of large-scale structures and the role of black holes in shaping the Universe. It also describes the mission profile and instrumentation, with a focus on the X-IFU. Thanks to its breakthrough capabilities, the X-IFU is expected to make newAthena the most powerful X-ray observatory ever launched. The mission is currently planned for launch around 2037. I will provide an update on the status of the mission.

During the X-IFU system requirement review in 2022, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of developing its sub-systems, under the responsibility of the X-IFU Consortium. Following the mission’s reformulation in 2023, a new X-IFU design prompted an updated LCA. This assessment covered the supply chain, manufacturing, testing, logistics, and manpower involved in the instrument’s development.

This talk presents the key findings of this pioneering LCA—one of the first conducted for a space-borne scientific instrument—highlighting its implications for sustainable practices in future space missions.