How is the international development of IXO being coordinated?
The IXO project concept was born in May 2008, when ESA and NASA established an international coordination group involving ESA, NASA and JAXA, with the aim of exploring a joint mission merging the ongoing XEUS and Constellation-X projects. As a result, a joint understanding was reached by the coordination group on a proposal to proceed towards the goal of developing an International X-ray Observatory (IXO). Currently, IXO development is guided by four key advisory groups of scientists and engineers – the Science Definition Team, the Telescope Working Group, the Instrument Working Group, and the Study Coordination Group overseeing the coordination of all groups. In addition to advisory groups, more than 350 scientists from over 60 institutions around the world are actively involved with IXO. Many of them were active supporters of Constellation-X and XEUS projects. More information on IXO advisory groups, along with the names of the group members and project leaders can be found on the Ad
