MAXI2
MAXI2 is a second‑generation X‑ray astronomy instrument developed by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for use on the International Space Station (ISS). It is part of the Monitor of All‑sky X‑ray Image (MAXI) series, which began in 2009 with the original MAXI. MAXI2 builds on the earlier design by incorporating a larger detector array and improved angular resolution, enabling more precise localization of transient X‑ray sources such as gamma‑ray bursts, supernovae, and accreting compact objects.
The instrument uses a set of coded‐mask cameras constructed from cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors. These
MAXI2 was launched aboard the Japanese H-IIA‑01 rocket in 2021 and installed on the Japanese Experiment Module
Operation of MAXI2 involves a combination of Earth‑pointed scans and 360° sky surveys. The instrument’s real‑time
In addition to its scientific role, MAXI2 serves as a technological demonstrator for future high‑energy astronomical