Chasing All Transients Constellation Hunters (CATCH)

Official website: https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/catch-1.htm.

The CATCH 1 (Chasing All Transients Constellation Hunters 1) is a Chinese microsatellte to address the lack of follow-up observation capabilities in the time-domain astronomy era. It will study the dynamic universe via X-ray follow-up observations of various multi-wavelength and multi-messenger transients, such as electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events, X-ray binaries, fast radio bursts, magnetars, and gamma-ray bursts.

The Institute of High Energy Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed the CATCH project. Its goal is to conduct multi-target, continuous, and multi-parameter observations of massive variable sources. The Chinese Academy of Sciences' Microsatellite Innovation Institute is responsible for its development. CATCH-1 is the first test satellite for a planned constellation of 126 satellites. The constellation will be composed of three types of satellites, each serving a different scientific purpose. Type-A satellites are used for immediate timing monitoring after target discovery. Based on the results obtained from type-A satellites, type-B satellites are deployed for more in-depth timing, imaging, and spectroscopic follow-up observations, and type-C satellites, on the other hand, are specifically designed for polarization measurements. CATCH 1 is a prototype for the A-class satellites.

Its main task is to conduct in-orbit verification of space technologies such as lightweight X-ray focusing mirrors, silicon drift detector systems, remote sensing cameras, satellite rapid steering capabilities, high-precision extension mechanisms, and intelligent control, and collaborate with the observation and early warning of the Sino-French astronomical satellite SVOM to quickly carry out opportunity observations and promote subsequent cooperation between China and France.