Swift spacecraft launched
Updated: Sat, Nov 20, 2004, 7:17 PM ET (0017 GMT)
Originally Posted: Sat, Nov 20, 2004, 2:01 PM ET (1901 GMT)
A Delta 2 rocket launched NASA's Swift astronomy spacecraft Saturday afternoon. The Delta 2 7320 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 12:16 pm EST (1716 GMT), six minutes later than planned when launch preparations fell slightly behind schedule. Swift separated from the Delta 2 about 80 minutes after launch, having been placed in a 600-kilometer orbit around the Earth. The launch had been planned for Wednesday, but pushed back several days to correct a problem with a range command received-decoder on the launch vehicle. Swift's mission is to detect gamma-ray bursts, reorientating itself to study those bursts with its onboard telescopes within seconds of their detection. On-orbit checkout of the spacecraft is expected to take about a month, after which Swift will begin its science mission.
Originally Posted: Sat, Nov 20, 2004, 2:01 PM ET (1901 GMT)
A Delta 2 rocket launched NASA's Swift astronomy spacecraft Saturday afternoon. The Delta 2 7320 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 12:16 pm EST (1716 GMT), six minutes later than planned when launch preparations fell slightly behind schedule. Swift separated from the Delta 2 about 80 minutes after launch, having been placed in a 600-kilometer orbit around the Earth. The launch had been planned for Wednesday, but pushed back several days to correct a problem with a range command received-decoder on the launch vehicle. Swift's mission is to detect gamma-ray bursts, reorientating itself to study those bursts with its onboard telescopes within seconds of their detection. On-orbit checkout of the spacecraft is expected to take about a month, after which Swift will begin its science mission.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Senate committee advances Isaacman nomination to lead NASA
Posted: Sun, May 4 10:23 AM ET (1423 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, May 4
Olivier Ricouart appointed Chief Technical Officer of Arianespace
Arianespace — 11:35 am ET (1535 GMT) Beyond Gravity: New high-power antenna for Europe’s forest satellite
Beyond Gravity — 11:33 am ET (1533 GMT) Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) Announces Key Milestone in Development of Aspera Space Astronomy Microsatellite Mission
Space Flight Laboratory — 11:32 am ET (1532 GMT) Moon RACER Activates Self-Driving Mode for Lunar Exploration
Intuitive Machines — 11:30 am ET (1530 GMT) Research Team Develops New Test to Verify Einstein's Theory of Gravity
ZARM — 11:30 am ET (1530 GMT) |
