Hyperion: the origin of the stars. A far UV space telescope for high-resolution spectroscopy over wide fields

We present Hyperion, a mission concept recently proposed to the December 2021 NASA Medium Explorer announcement of opportunity. Hyperion explores formation and destruction molecular clouds planet-forming disks in nearby star-forming regions Milky Way. It does this using long-slit high-resolution spectroscopy emission from fluorescing hydrogen, which is powerful far-ultraviolet (FUV) diagnostic. Molecular hydrogen (H2) most abundant molecule universe key ingredient for star planet but typically not observed directly because its symmetric atomic structure lack dipole moment mean there are no spectral lines at visible wavelengths few infrared. uses hydrogen’s wealth FUV achieve three science objectives: (1) determining how related boundaries clouds, (2) quickly by what process massive feedback disperses (3) mechanism driving evolution around young solar-analog stars. conducts straightforward, highly efficient, single-channel instrument design. Hyperion’s consists 48-cm primary mirror with an f/5 focal ratio. The spectrometer has two modes, both covering 138.5- 161.5-nm bandpasses. A low resolution mode R ≥ 10,000 slit length 65 arcmin, whereas 50,000 over 5 armin. occupies 2-week-long high-earth lunar resonance TESS-like orbit 2 weeks planned observations per orbit, time downlinks calibrations. was reviewed as category I, highest rating possible selected.