Journal article
The CASTOR mission
Journal of astronomical telescopes, instruments, and systems, v 11(4), 042202
01 Oct 2025
Abstract
CASTOR is a proposed wide-field (30 ' x30 '=0.25 deg(2)), high-resolution (FWHM similar to 0.15 ''), 1-m-diameter space telescope that is under development by the Canadian Space Agency and the National Research Council of Canada. Optimized for UV/blue-optical wavelengths, the telescope uses dichroics to enable imaging in three channels (and up to five bands) that cover the 0.15 to 0.55 mu m spectral region, simultaneously. CASTOR will also feature low- and low-medium-resolution spectroscopic capabilities through the use of a deployable grism for low-resolution (R less than or similar to 420) slit-less spectroscopy in its UV and u channels, and low-medium-resolution R similar to 1400 multi-object spectroscopy in a parallel field using a digital micro-mirror device. High-speed, precision photometry will be possible using dedicated CMOS detectors in each of its three channels. We present an overview of the mission, including the optical design, instruments and detectors, payload layout, satellite bus, orbit, and ground segment. We describe the mission's scientific capabilities and expected place within the astronomical landscape in the 2030s. The 5-year lifetime is baselined on a combination of legacy surveys, guest observer programs, and target-of-opportunity science. We summarize scientific plans for the mission in each of eight fields: cosmology, time domain and multi-messenger science, active galactic nuclei, galaxies, near-field cosmology, stellar astrophysics, exoplanets, and solar system studies. We conclude by describing ongoing development efforts, highlighting areas of particular relevance for NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory.
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Details
- Title
- The CASTOR mission
- Creators
- Patrick Cote - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsTyrone E. Woods - University of ManitobaJohn B. Hutchings - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsJason D. Rhodes - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryRuben Sanchez-Janssen - Royal ObservatoryAlan D. Scott - Honeywell (Canada)John Pazder - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsMelissa Amenouche - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsMichael Balogh - University of WaterlooSimon Blouin - University of VictoriaAlain Cournoyer - ABB (Canada)Maria R. Drout - University of TorontoNick Kuzmin - University of CalgaryKatherine J. Mack - Perimeter InstituteLaura Ferrarese - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsWesley C. Fraser - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsSarah C. Gallagher - Western UniversityFrederic Grandmont - ABB (Canada)Daryl Haggard - McGill UniversityPaul Harrison - Magellan Aerospace (Canada)Vincent Henault-Brunet - Saint Mary's UniversityJ. J. Kavelaars - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsViraja Khatu - Canada–France–Hawaii TelescopeJoel C. Roediger - Canadian Space AgencyJason Rowe - Bishop's UniversityMarcin Sawicki - Saint Mary's UniversityJesper Skottfelt - The Open UniversityMatt Taylor - University of CalgaryLudo Van Waerbeke - University of British ColumbiaLaurie Amen - McGill UniversityDhananjhay Bansal - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsMartin Bergeron - Canadian Space AgencyToby Brown - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsGreg Burley - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsHum Chand - Central University of Himachal PradeshIsaac Cheng - University of WaterlooRyan Cloutier - McMaster UniversityNolan Dickson - Saint Mary's UniversityOleg Djazovski - Canadian Space AgencyIvana Damjanov - Saint Mary's UniversityJames Doherty - Canadian Space Agcy, St Hubert, PQ, CanadaKyle Finner - California Institute of TechnologyMacarena Garcia Del Valle Espinosa - University of EdinburghJennifer Glover - McGill UniversityAna I. Gomez De Castro - Univ Complutense, Fac CC Matemat, Space Astron Res Grp AEGORA, Madrid, SpainOr Graur - University of PortsmouthTim Hardy - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsMichelle Kao - University of WaterlooDenis Leahy - University of CalgaryDeborah Lokhorst - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsAlex I. Malz - Carnegie Mellon UniversityAllison ManMadeline A. Marshall - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsSean Mcgee - University of BirminghamRyan Mckenzie - Magellan Aerospace (Canada)Kai Michaud - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsSurhud S. More - Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and AstrophysicsDavid Morris - Teledyne e2v (United Kingdom)Patrick W. Morris - California Institute of TechnologyThibaud Moutard - Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueWasi Naqvi - University of British ColumbiaMatt Nicholl - Queen's University BelfastGael Noirot - Saint Mary's UniversityM. S. Oey - University of MichiganCyrielle Opitom - Royal ObservatorySamir Salim - Indiana University BloomingtonBryan R. Scott - Northwestern UniversityCharles A. Shapiro - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryDaniel Stern - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryAnnapurni Subramaniam - Indian Institute of AstrophysicsDavid Thilke - Johns Hopkins UniversityIvan Wevers - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsDmitri Vorobiev - Lab Atmospher & Space Phys, Boulder, CO USAL. Y. Aaron Yung - Space Telescope Sci Inst, Baltimore, MD USAFrederic Zamkotsian - Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueSuzanne Aigrain - University of OxfordAnahita Alavi - California Institute of TechnologyMartin Barstow - University of LeicesterPeter Bartosik - Honeywell (Canada)Hadleigh Bluhm - University of CalgaryJo Bovy - University of TorontoPeter Cameron - Honeywell (Canada)Raymond G. Carlberg - University of TorontoJessie L. Christiansen - California Institute of TechnologyYuyang Chen - University of TorontoPaul Crowther - University of SheffieldKristen Dage - Curtin UniversityAaron L. Dotter - Dartmouth CollegePatrick Dufour - Université de MontréalJean Dupuis - Canadian Space AgencyBen Dryer - The Open UniversityAngaraj Duara - The Open UniversityGwendolyn M. Eadie - University of TorontoMarielle R. Eduardo - University of VictoriaVincente Estrada-Carpenter - St Marys Univ, Inst Computat Astrophys, Dept Phys & Astron, Halifax, NS, CanadaSebastien Fabbro - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsAndreas Faisst - California Institute of TechnologyNicole M. Ford - McGill UniversityMorgan Fraser - University College DublinBoris T. Gaensicke - University of WarwickShashkiran Ganesh - Physical Research LaboratoryPoshak Gandhi - University of SouthamptonMelissa L. Graham - University of WashingtonRebecca Hamel - Saint Mary's UniversityMartin Hellmich - Saint Mary's UniversityJohn Hennessy - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryKaitlyn Hessel - University of VictoriaJeremy Heyl - University of British ColumbiaCatherine Heymans - Royal ObservatoryYashar Hezaveh - Université de MontréalRenee Hlozek - University of TorontoMichael E. Hoenk - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryAndrew Holland - The Open UniversityEric Huff - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryIan Hutchinson - University of LeicesterIkuru Iwata - Saint Mary's UniversityApril D. Jewell - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryDoug Johnstone - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsMaia Jones - Royal ObservatoryTodd Jones - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryDustin Lang - Perimeter InstituteJon Lapington - University of LeicesterJustin Lariviere - ABB (Canada)Cameron Lawlor-Forsyth - University of WaterlooDenis Laurin - Canadian Space AgencyCharles Lee - University of ManitobaRonan Legin - Université de MontréalTing S. Li - University of TorontoSungsoon Lim - Yonsei UniversityBethany Ludwig - University of TorontoMatt Kozun - Honeywell (Canada)Vivek M. - Indian Inst Astrophys, Bangalore, Karnataka, IndiaRobert Mann - Royal ObservatoryAlan W. Mcconnachie - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsEvan Mcdonough - University of WinnipegStanimir Metchev - Western UniversityDavid R. Miller - University of British ColumbiaTakashi Moriya - National Institutes of Natural SciencesCameron Morgan - University of WaterlooJulio Navarro - University of VictoriaYael Naze - University of LiègeShouleh Nikzad - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryVivek Oad - University of CalgaryNathalie Ouellette - Université de MontréalEmily K. Pass - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianWill J. Percival - University of WaterlooLaurence Perreault Levasseur - Univ Montreal, Dept Phys, Montreal, PQ, CanadaJoe Postma - University of CalgaryNayyer Raza - McGill UniversityGordon T. Richards - Drexel UniversityHarvey Richer - University of British ColumbiaCarmelle Robert - Université LavalErik Rosolowsky - University of AlbertaJohn J. Ruan - Bishop's UniversitySarah Rugheimer - York UniversitySamar Safi-Harb - University of ManitobaKanak Saha - Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and AstrophysicsVicky Scowcroft - University of BathFederico Sestito - University of VictoriaHimanshu Sharma - Central University of Himachal PradeshJames Sikora - Bishop's UniversityGregory R. Sivakoff - University of AlbertaThirupathi Sivarani - Indian Institute of AstrophysicsPatrick Smith - Royal ObservatoryWarren Soh - Honeywell (Canada)Robert Sorba - Saint Mary's UniversitySmitha Subramanian - Indian Institute of AstrophysicsHossen Teimoorinia - Herzberg Institute of AstrophysicsHarry I. Teplitz - California Institute of TechnologyShaylin Thadani - University of OttawaShavon Thadani - University of OttawaAaron Tohuvavohu - University of TorontoKim A. Venn - University of VictoriaNicholas Vieira - McGill UniversityJeremy J. Webb - York UniversityPaul Wiegert - Western UniversityRyan Wierckx - University of ManitobaYanqin Wu - University of TorontoJade Yeung - University of ManitobaSukyoung K. Yi - Yonsei University
- Publication Details
- Journal of astronomical telescopes, instruments, and systems, v 11(4), 042202
- Publisher
- SPIE
- Number of pages
- 37
- Grant note
- California Institute of Technology UK Space Agency 80NM0018D0004 / National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) Canadian Space Agency National Research Council of Canada Science and Technology Facilities Council's UK Astronomy Technology Centre Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001654125500001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105027144614
- Other Identifier
- 991022197433804721