Astro-D is Japan's fourth cosmic X-ray astronomy mission and the second
for which the US is providing a substantial part of the scientific
payload. Scheduled to fly 5 February 1993, its four large-area
telescopes will focus X-rays from a wide energy range onto a pair
each of CCDs and imaging Gas Scintillation Proportional Counters
(GSPC). Astro-D will be the first X-ray imaging mission operating over
the 0.5-12 keV band with high energy resolution (8 and 2 per cent
at 5.9 keV for the GSPCs and CCDs, respectively). This combination of
capabilities will enable a varied and exciting program of astronomical
research to be carried out.