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Space Shuttle STS-37 Launch
| Name of Image |
Space Shuttle STS-37 Launch |
| Date of Image |
1991-04-05 |
| Full Description |
Aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, the STS-37 mission launched April 5, 1991 from launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and landed back on Earth April 11, 1991. The 39th shuttle mission included crew members: Steven R. Nagel, commander, Kenneth D. Cameron, pilot, Jerry L,. Ross, mission specialist 1, Jay Apt, mission specialist 2, and Linda M. Godwin, mission specialist 3. The primary payload for the mission was the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO). The GRO included the Burst and Transient Experiment (BATSE), the Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL), the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET), and the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSEE). Secondary payloads included Crew and Equipment Translation Aids (CETA), the Ascent Particle Monitor (APM), the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment II (SAREXII), the Protein Crystal Growth (PCG), the Bioserve Instrumentation Technology Associates Materials Dispersion Apparatus (BIMDA), Radiation Monitoring Equipment III (RMEIII), and Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS). |
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The Compton Gamma Ray Observ
…
| Title |
The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory |
| Explanation |
The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/cgro.html ] (CGRO) was the most massive instrument ever launched by a NASA Space Shuttle [ http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/index.html ] in 1991 and continues to revolutionize gamma-ray astronomy [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/gamma/gamma.html ]. Before Compton loses more stabilizing gyroscopes, NASA is considering [ http://cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/01/14/satellite.deorbit/index.html ] firing onboard rockets to bring it on a controlled reentry into the ocean. This orbiting observatory sees the sky in gamma-ray photons [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/espec1.html ] - light so blue humans can't see it. These photons are blocked by the Earth's atmosphere from reaching the Earth's surface. Results from CGRO, pictured above [ http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/images/pao/STS37/10064038.htm ], have shown the entire universe to be a violent and rapidly changing place - when viewed in gamma-rays. Astronomers using CGRO data continue to make monumental discoveries [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-abs_connect?&text=CGRO&query_type=PAPERS ], including identifying mysterious gamma-ray bursts [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/cossc/apod_search?gamma+ray+burst ] that uniquely illuminate the early universe, discovery of a whole new class of QSOs [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/egret_blazars.html ], and discovery of objects so strange [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/egret_src.html ] that astronomers can't yet figure out what they are. |
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Gamma-Ray Earth
| Title |
Gamma-Ray Earth |
| Explanation |
The pixelated planet above is actually our own planet Earth seen in gamma rays [ http://universe.nasa.gov/press/2005/050325b.html ] - the most energetic form of light. In fact, the gamma rays [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/vu/overview/whatare/ process.html ] used to construct this view [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/objects/heapow/archive/ solar_system/cgro_earth.html ] pack over 35 million electron volts [ http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ electric/ev.html#c1 ] (MeV) compared to a mere two electron volts (eV) for a typical visible light photon. The Earth's gamma-ray glow [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060527.html ] is indeed very faint, and this image was constructed by combining data from seven years of exposure during the life of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ], operating [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/vu/overview/gro/ gro.html ] in Earth orbit from 1991 to 2000. Brightest near the edge and faint near the center, the picture indicates that the gamma rays are coming from high in Earth's atmosphere. The gamma rays are produced as the atmosphere interacts with high energy cosmic rays [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap001202.html ] from space, blocking [ http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/ multiwavelength_astronomy/multiwavelength_astronomy/ orbit.html ] the harmful radiation from reaching the surface. Astronomers need to understand [ http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/astro-ph/0410487 ] Earth's gamma-ray glow well as it can interfere with observations of cosmic gamma-ray sources [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/vu/index.html ] like pulsars, supernova remnants [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap041105.html ], and distant active galaxies powered by supermassive black holes [ http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/active/ smblack.html ]. |
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Gamma Ray All Sky Map
| Title |
Gamma Ray All Sky Map |
| Explanation |
What if you could "see" gamma rays? This computer processed image represents a map of the entire sky at photon energies above 100 million electron Volts. These gamma-ray photons are more than 40 million times more energetic than visible light photons and are blocked from the Earth's surface by the atmosphere. In the early 1990s NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, in orbit around the Earth, scanned the entire sky to produce this picture. A diffuse gamma-ray glow from the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy is clearly seen across the middle. The nature and even distance to some of the fainter sources remain unknown. For more information see Compton Science Support Center release. [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/egret_allsky.html ] |
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The Compton Gamma Ray Observ
…
| Title |
The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory |
| Explanation |
The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/cgro.html ] (CGRO) was the most massive instrument ever launched [ http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-37/mission-sts-37.html ] by a NASA Space Shuttle and continues to revolutionize gamma-ray astronomy. This orbiting observatory sees the sky in gamma-ray photons - light so blue humans can't see it. These photons are blocked by the Earth's atmosphere from reaching the Earth's surface. Results from CGRO have shown the entire universe to be a violent and rapidly changing place - when viewed in gamma-rays. Astronomers using CGRO data continue to make monumental discoveries, including showing that mysterious flashes of gamma-rays are much more powerful than previously imagined [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/batse_src.html ], discovery of a whole new class of QSO [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/egret_blazars.html ], and discovery of objects so strange that astronomers can't yet figure out what they are [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/egret_src.html ]. Tomorrow's picture: Atlantis Landing |
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The Pulsar Powered Crab
| Title |
The Pulsar Powered Crab |
| Explanation |
In the Summer of 1054 [ http://www.chaco.com/park/archaeology/nebula.html ] A.D. Chinese astronomers reported [ http://www.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/96/22/crabhist.html ] that a star in the constellation of Taurus [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/ constellations/Taurus.html ] suddenly became as bright as the full Moon. Fading slowly, it remained visible for over a year. It is now understood that a spectacular supernova explosion [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980217.html ] - the detonation of a massive star whose remains [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980613.html ] are now visible as the Crab Nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951122.html ]- was responsible for the apparition. The core of the star collapsed [ http://www.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/96/22/pulsars.html ] to form a rotating neutron star [ http://astro.uchicago.edu/home/web/miller/nstar.html ] or pulsar [ http://pulsar.princeton.edu/rpr.shtml ], one of the most exotic objects known to 20th century astronomy. Like a cosmic lighthouse, the rotating Crab pulsar generates beams of radio, visible, x-ray and gamma-ray energy [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cossc/descriptions/egret_pulsars.html ] which, as the name suggests, produce pulses as they sweep across our view. Using a stunning series of visible light images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) [ http://www.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/96/22.html ], astronomers have discovered spectacular pulsar powered motions within the Crab nebula. Highlights of this HST Crab "movie" [ http://www.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/96/22.html#Movies ] show wisps of material moving away from the pulsar at half the speed of light, a scintillating halo, and an intense knot of emission dancing, sprite-like, above the pulsar's pole. Only 6 miles wide but more massive than the sun, the pulsar's energy drives the dynamics and emission of the nebula itself which is more than 10 lightyears across. In this HST image [ http://www.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/96/22/A.html ], the pulsar is the left most of the two bright central stars. |
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Gamma-Ray Earth
| Title |
Gamma-Ray Earth |
| Explanation |
The pixelated planet above is actually our own planet Earth seen in gamma rays [ http://universe.nasa.gov/press/2005/050325b.html ] - the most energetic form of light. In fact, the gamma rays [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/vu/overview/whatare/ process.html ] used to construct this view [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/objects/heapow/archive/solar_system/cgro_earth.html ] pack over 35 million electron volts [ http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ electric/ev.html#c1 ] (MeV) compared to a mere two electron volts (eV) for a typical visible light photon. The Earth's gamma-ray glow [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990417.html ] is indeed very faint, and this image was constructed by combining data from seven years of exposure during the life of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ], operating [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/vu/overview/gro/ gro.html ] in Earth orbit from 1991 to 2000. Brightest near the edge and faint near the center, the picture indicates that the gamma rays are coming from high in Earth's atmosphere. The gamma rays are produced as the atmosphere interacts with high energy cosmic rays [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap001202.html ] from space, blocking [ http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/ multiwavelength_astronomy/multiwavelength_astronomy/ orbit.html ] the harmful radiation from reaching the surface. Astronomers need to understand [ http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/astro-ph/0410487 ] Earth's gamma-ray glow well as it can interfere with observations of cosmic gamma-ray sources [ http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/vu/index.html ] like pulsars, supernova remnants [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap041105.html ], and distant active galaxies powered by supermassive black holes [ http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/active/ smblack.html ]. |
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Orbiter Discovery startles a
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| Description |
Orbiter Discovery startles a great white egret (below) next to runway 33 as it touches down at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Main gear touchdown was at 12:04 p.m. EST, landing on orbit 135. Discovery returns to Earth with its crew of seven after successfully completing mission STS-95, lasting nearly nine days and 3.6 million miles. The crew consists of Mission Commander Curtis L. Brown Jr., Pilot Steven W. Lindsey, Mission Specialist Scott E. Parazynski, Mission Specialist Stephen K. Robinson, Payload Specialist John H. Glenn Jr., a senator from Ohio, Mission Specialist Pedro Duque of Spain, with the European Space Agency (ESA), and Payload Specialist Chiaki Mukai, M.D., with the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). The mission included research payloads such as the Spartan solar-observing deployable spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker, as well as the SPACEHAB single module with experiments on space flight and the aging process |
| Release Date |
11/07/1998 |
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Artist concept - Gamma Ray O
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| Title |
Artist concept - Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) orbits Earth after STS-37 deploy |
| Description |
Artist concept shows Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) orbiting Earth after STS-37 deployment. The high gain antenna (HGA) and solar array (SA) panels are deployed. The four complement instruments are visible including: the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) (at the four corners of the satellite), the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) (left), the Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL) (center), and the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) (right). |
| Date Taken |
1990-03-01 |
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Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO)
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| Title |
Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) in ground support structure at TRW |
| Description |
The Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) is positioned in a support structure in TRW's assembly room for checkout and processing prior to shipment to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). GRO is the heaviest NASA science satellite ever to be deployed by the Space Shuttle into low Earth orbit. GRO's trunnions are locked into the support structure. From left to right are three of the four GRO instruments including the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE), the Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL), and the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET). The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) equipment is located on GRO's corners. GRO, which weighs just over 35,000 pounds (15,876 kilograms), is a space-based observatory scheduled to be put into space by Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, next year. GRO is designed to study the universe in an invisible, high-energy form of light known as gamma rays. Gamma rays, which cannot penetrate the Earth's atmosphere, are of interest to |
| Date Taken |
1990-06-13 |
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Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO)
…
| Title |
Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) inspected by TRW workers at Redondo Beach plant |
| Description |
The Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) is positioned on its end and is inspected by TRW workers prior to shipment to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). GRO is the heaviest NASA science satellite ever to be deployed by the Space Shuttle into low Earth orbit. From bottom to top are three of the four GRO instruments including the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE), the Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL), and the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET). The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) equipment is located on GRO's corners. GRO, which weighs just over 35,000 pounds (15,876 kilograms), is a space-based observatory scheduled to be put into space by Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104 during STS-37, next year. GRO is designed to study the universe in an invisible, high-energy form of light known as gamma rays. Gamma rays, which cannot penetrate the Earth's atmosphere, are of interest to scientists because these rays provide a reliable record of cosmic change |
| Date Taken |
1990-06-13 |
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TRW processing and check out
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| Title |
TRW processing and check out of Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) |
| Description |
As they prepare for the shipment of the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) from TRW's assembly room to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), TRW workers and NASA engineers are dwarfed by the heaviest NASA science satellite ever to be deployed by the Space Shuttle into low Earth orbit. GRO is suspended by overhead crane at one end and positioned in rack at the other end. The four GRO instruments include the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) (at bottom), the Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL) (center), the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) (at top), and the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) (located on GRO's corners). GRO, which weighs just over 35,000 pounds (15,876 kilograms), is a space-based observatory scheduled to be put into space by Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, next year. GRO is designed to study the universe in an invisible, high-energy form of light known as gamma rays. Gamma rays, which cannot penetrate the Earth's atmosphere, are of i |
| Date Taken |
1990-06-13 |
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STS-37 Gamma Ray Observatory
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| Title |
STS-37 Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) held by RMS over OV-104's payload bay |
| Description |
The Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) with its solar array (SA) panels deployed is grappled by the remote manipulator system (RMS) and held over Atlantis', Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104's, payload bay (PLB) during systems checkout. GRO's four complement instruments are visible: the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) (at the bottom), the Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL) (center), the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) (top), and Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) (on four corners). This view taken by the STS-37 crew shows the GRO backdropped against clouds over water on the Earth's surface. |
| Date Taken |
1991-04-11 |
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STS-37 Gamma Ray Observatory
…
| Title |
STS-37 Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) grappled by RMS |
| Description |
Backdropped against the Earth's cloud-covered surface, the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) with its solar array (SA) panels deployed is grappled by the remote manipulator system (RMS) during STS-37 systems checkout. GRO's four complement instruments are visible: the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) (at the bottom), the Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL) (center), the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) (top), and Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) (on four corners). |
| Date Taken |
1991-04-11 |
|
STS-37 Gamma Ray Observatory
…
| Title |
STS-37 Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) grappled by RMS |
| Description |
Backdropped against the Earth's expansive desert in the Mid East, the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) with its solar array (SA) panels deployed is grappled by the remote manipulator system (RMS) during STS-37 systems checkout. GRO's four complement instruments are visible: the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) (at the bottom), the Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL) (center), the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) (top), and Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) (on four corners). The view was taken by STS-37 crew through an aft flight deck overhead window. |
| Date Taken |
1991-04-11 |
|
STS-37 Gamma Ray Observatory
…
| Title |
STS-37 Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) grappled by RMS |
| Description |
Backdropped against the Earth's surface, the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) with its solar array (SA) panels deployed is grappled by the remote manipulator system (RMS) during STS-37 systems checkout. GRO's four complement instruments are visible: the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) (at the bottom), the Imaging Compton Telescope (COMPTEL) (center), the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) (top), and Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) (on four corners). The view was taken by STS-37 crew through an aft flight deck overhead window. |
| Date Taken |
1991-04-11 |
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