Integration of the SPO mirror modules onto the NewAthena x-ray telescope

Several hundred Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) Mirror Modules (MMs) will be integrated and co-aligned onto the NewAthena (Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics) Mirror Assembly Module (MAM). The integration process has been developed by Media Lario and exploits a full-size optical bench to capture the focal plane image of each mirror module when illuminated by an UV plane wavefront at 218 nm. Each mirror module, handled by a manipulator, focuses the collimated beam onto a CCD camera placed at the 12 m focal position of the ATHENA telescope. The alignment and integration concept consists in using a vertical optical bench (VOB) to capture the focal plane image of each SPO MM while illuminated by a reference plane wave. The light emitted by the UV source is reflected by a parabolic mirror, the UV collimator, to generate a collimated beam, thus simulating illumination from deep space. The SPO MM focuses the collimated beam onto a CCD camera placed at the focal position and the acquired point spread function (PSF) is processed in real time to calculate, by means of image analysis, the centroid position with very high accuracy. This information is then used to guide the robot-assisted alignment sequence. Supported by ESA, Media Lario designed the Assembly Integration and Test (AIT) facility, able to illuminate the complete ATHENA Mirror Assembly Module (MAM). The building housing the AIT facility is under advanced construction at the Media Lario premises (near Milan, Italy), it extends 6.5 m below ground and 17 m above ground. The building is dimensioned to accommodate, beside the AIT facility, the vertical X-ray (Vert-X) test facility. The co-location of these two facilities is strategic for the project and will permit regular checks of the Mirror Assembly Module while it is populated and its final x-ray calibration. The facility is designed with a rail system connecting the two facilities, allowing the transfer of the Mirror Assembly Module between the two. This paper reports on the status of the commissioning of the AIT facility, including the 2.6 m Zerodur® parabolic mirror (the UV collimator) used to collimate the full illumination UV beam.