[Music throughout] [XMM-Newton]
[Music throughout] [XMM-Newton]

[Launched on December 10, 1999,]
[Launched on December 10, 1999,]

[XMM-Newton is an ESA (European Space Agency) X-ray telescope supported by NASA.]
[XMM-Newton is an ESA (European Space Agency) X-ray telescope supported by NASA.]

[It has revolutionized the study of high-energy phenomena in the universe.]
[It has revolutionized the study of high-energy phenomena in the universe.]

France Cordova: The longevity of XMM was not foreseen, it just kept
France Cordova: The longevity of XMM was not foreseen, it just kept

right on going. Stephanie LaMassa: Something about looking at the night sky that just
right on going. Stephanie LaMassa: Something about looking at the night sky that just

fills you with a sense of wonder and I just never grew up from that.
fills you with a sense of wonder and I just never grew up from that.

Lisa Winter: XMM has been a part of my career from
Lisa Winter: XMM has been a part of my career from

the earliest stages even until now.
the earliest stages even until now.

LaMassa: XMM is a space-based observatory that studies X-ray
LaMassa: XMM is a space-based observatory that studies X-ray

light from the most energetic phenomena in the universe. It spans
light from the most energetic phenomena in the universe. It spans

[Stephanie LaMassa, Astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute. Ph.D. thesis based on XMM-Newton data] the range of everything from studying energetic
[Stephanie LaMassa, Astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute. Ph.D. thesis based on XMM-Newton data] the range of everything from studying energetic

stars and exoplanets around those stars to the most distant universe.
stars and exoplanets around those stars to the most distant universe.

[Norbert Schartel, XMM-Newton Project Scientist, ESA] We can start with comets, which are very cold objects.
[Norbert Schartel, XMM-Newton Project Scientist, ESA] We can start with comets, which are very cold objects.

We go then to compact objects where we observe
We go then to compact objects where we observe

very hot plasma near to the event horizon from a black hole.
very hot plasma near to the event horizon from a black hole.

And then, completely different then we look in
And then, completely different then we look in

XMM-Newton data for signature of dark matter, and this
XMM-Newton data for signature of dark matter, and this

I think makes this mission so great, that it allows such a
I think makes this mission so great, that it allows such a

broad science to be addressed. Cordova: I had a sabbatical
broad science to be addressed. Cordova: I had a sabbatical

in 1982 in the United Kingdom,
in 1982 in the United Kingdom,

and my officemate at the time was Steve Kahn. We had a
and my officemate at the time was Steve Kahn. We had a

third office mate it was Keith Mason. We came up with the
third office mate it was Keith Mason. We came up with the

[France Cordova, Director, National Science Foundation (NSF) Was co-PI of XMM-Newton Optical/UV Monitor Telescope] idea that it would be great to do multiwavelength
[France Cordova, Director, National Science Foundation (NSF) Was co-PI of XMM-Newton Optical/UV Monitor Telescope] idea that it would be great to do multiwavelength

observations from space. To do deep X-ray
observations from space. To do deep X-ray

imaging and spectroscopy and simultaneously
imaging and spectroscopy and simultaneously

be able to observe cosmic sources in the ultraviolet
be able to observe cosmic sources in the ultraviolet

and optical bands. If we could do all this from
and optical bands. If we could do all this from

one platform in space, namely XMM, we
one platform in space, namely XMM, we

it would be much more efficient. Then, when the X-rays saw something
it would be much more efficient. Then, when the X-rays saw something

pop off, the ultraviolet/optical telescope would be right there
pop off, the ultraviolet/optical telescope would be right there

seeing it right away. [Lisa Winter, Astronomer, NSF. Ph.D. thesis based on XMM-Newton data] XMM-Newton is
seeing it right away. [Lisa Winter, Astronomer, NSF. Ph.D. thesis based on XMM-Newton data] XMM-Newton is

a really fantastic telescope. It’s more than just one telescope
a really fantastic telescope. It’s more than just one telescope

actually. You can study the same object across a range
actually. You can study the same object across a range

of energies from the optical, where we can observe from
of energies from the optical, where we can observe from

the Earth, up into the UV and X-rays where you really have to go
the Earth, up into the UV and X-rays where you really have to go

above into space. Cordova: It was great to be at the beginning
above into space. Cordova: It was great to be at the beginning

of multiwavelength astronomy. There’s
of multiwavelength astronomy. There’s

virtually no cosmic sources that just radiate at
virtually no cosmic sources that just radiate at

one frequency, and when you look at the universe with X-ray
one frequency, and when you look at the universe with X-ray

eyes you see something much different than when you look at the same universe in
eyes you see something much different than when you look at the same universe in

ultraviolet eyes. Steve Kahn: I led the US piece of one
ultraviolet eyes. Steve Kahn: I led the US piece of one

[Steve Kahn, Professor, SLAC National Accelerator Lab. Was co-PI of XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS)] of the three major instruments on XMM-Newton, which was called the Reflection
[Steve Kahn, Professor, SLAC National Accelerator Lab. Was co-PI of XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS)] of the three major instruments on XMM-Newton, which was called the Reflection

Grating Spectrometer. I developed the initial
Grating Spectrometer. I developed the initial

concept for that in the early 1980s when I was quite young.
concept for that in the early 1980s when I was quite young.

We knew that many systems in the universe emitted X-rays copiously, but
We knew that many systems in the universe emitted X-rays copiously, but

we didn’t have very detailed models for how that X-ray emission
we didn’t have very detailed models for how that X-ray emission

arises and what it was actually telling us about the systems.
arises and what it was actually telling us about the systems.

[Maurice Leutenegger, Astronomer, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Was XMM-Newton RGS team member] Spectroscopy is the study of light emitted by atoms,
[Maurice Leutenegger, Astronomer, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Was XMM-Newton RGS team member] Spectroscopy is the study of light emitted by atoms,

but it’s
but it’s

more than that because atoms are peculiar. When they shine they don't
more than that because atoms are peculiar. When they shine they don't

just give you all the colors of the rainbow, it looks more like
just give you all the colors of the rainbow, it looks more like

a barcode. Kahn: You get very sharp peaks at very particular
a barcode. Kahn: You get very sharp peaks at very particular

wavelengths and frequencies and those are associated with particular
wavelengths and frequencies and those are associated with particular

quantum states. Leutenegger: It’s extremely powerful, it’s just like a barcode, it
quantum states. Leutenegger: It’s extremely powerful, it’s just like a barcode, it

looks like a bunch of garbage to human eyes but it can tell you
looks like a bunch of garbage to human eyes but it can tell you

you know, what’s in a product, and how much it costs, and what country it came from, and all that stuff.
you know, what’s in a product, and how much it costs, and what country it came from, and all that stuff.

Kahn: By measuring that detailed pattern we can learn about the
Kahn: By measuring that detailed pattern we can learn about the

fundamental physics of what’s happening in these very exotic environments. What the
fundamental physics of what’s happening in these very exotic environments. What the

temperatures are, the densities, the pressures. The spectroscopy that
temperatures are, the densities, the pressures. The spectroscopy that

XMM-Newton did really answered a huge number of questions.
XMM-Newton did really answered a huge number of questions.

Dheeraj Pasham: With the most recent result with XMM we were
Dheeraj Pasham: With the most recent result with XMM we were

[Dheeraj Pasham, Einstein fellow, MIT. Ph.D. thesis based on XMM-Newton data] able to measure the spin of the black hole, and I liked the signal so much
[Dheeraj Pasham, Einstein fellow, MIT. Ph.D. thesis based on XMM-Newton data] able to measure the spin of the black hole, and I liked the signal so much

so that I put it on a cup and I drink from it every day, so. (laughs)
so that I put it on a cup and I drink from it every day, so. (laughs)

Schartel: My son was shocked that other people
Schartel: My son was shocked that other people

in the school were knowing XMM-Newton.
in the school were knowing XMM-Newton.

Small children from 10 years, that they know that XMM-Newton
Small children from 10 years, that they know that XMM-Newton

is X-ray satellite. Cordova: Ah, you know, it’s amazing. It’s like
is X-ray satellite. Cordova: Ah, you know, it’s amazing. It’s like

the Cal Ripkin of satellites, of space satellites, this
the Cal Ripkin of satellites, of space satellites, this

thing that just keeps going and going and going and producing great data.
thing that just keeps going and going and going and producing great data.

Kahn: I’m delighted to see that number one the mission
Kahn: I’m delighted to see that number one the mission

is still working and the instrument is stilling working and that there are
is still working and the instrument is stilling working and that there are

all these young scientists that have been inspired to figure out great things to do with it.
all these young scientists that have been inspired to figure out great things to do with it.

Cordova: And they’re using it for, in all sorts of ways, which is
Cordova: And they’re using it for, in all sorts of ways, which is

really amazing to see a telescope used in ways and for
really amazing to see a telescope used in ways and for

discoveries that you could never have predicted when you first were
discoveries that you could never have predicted when you first were

designing it and launching it. LaMassa: There’s certain science that
designing it and launching it. LaMassa: There’s certain science that

XMM can do that other X-ray observatories
XMM can do that other X-ray observatories

can’t. Recently XMM has invested lots of
can’t. Recently XMM has invested lots of

time in these large-area multiwavelength survey
time in these large-area multiwavelength survey

fields including work that I’ve been leading, in a region
fields including work that I’ve been leading, in a region

of the sky that has lots of existing data.
of the sky that has lots of existing data.

And that multiwavelength data is really important to harness the best scientific
And that multiwavelength data is really important to harness the best scientific

results out of XMM. Pasham: Astronomy is going through a revolution.
results out of XMM. Pasham: Astronomy is going through a revolution.

There’s gravitational waves detected, there’s several kinds of weird
There’s gravitational waves detected, there’s several kinds of weird

supernovae detected, and having an X-ray instrument to
supernovae detected, and having an X-ray instrument to

simultaneously operate while these optical instruments are operating
simultaneously operate while these optical instruments are operating

will be extremely beneficial. Winter: Many objects change — they have
will be extremely beneficial. Winter: Many objects change — they have

flares and outbursts — so it’s really a key
flares and outbursts — so it’s really a key

observation to have everything from the X-ray, the optical,
observation to have everything from the X-ray, the optical,

and the UV all precisely at the same time.
and the UV all precisely at the same time.

Cordova: I’m so glad that XMM is a part of that, that it was
Cordova: I’m so glad that XMM is a part of that, that it was

taking people originally into the directions
taking people originally into the directions

of the time, and today is taking people into entirely new directions.
of the time, and today is taking people into entirely new directions.

[XMM-Newton 20 years]
[XMM-Newton 20 years]

[and looking forward]
[and looking forward]