The X-ray Spectrometer;
XRS;
is a unique instrument on board ASTRO-E;
the fifth Japanese X-ray astrophysics mission [1;
which will be put in orbit in early 2000. The XRS utilizes an X-ray microcalorimeter array operating at a cryogenic temperature of 60 mK and achieves a spectral resolution of about 12 eV (FWHM) and a high quantum efficiency of 20–80% in the 0.5–12 keV energy band. A unique three-stage cryogenic system is employed in order to obtain 60 mK and a cryogenic life time of about 2 yr. The XRS is developed by international collaboration supported by Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA);