- #1
- 24,775
- 792
Last edited by a moderator:
That's good to hear Laura, and I'm hoping that you are in a position to know this definitively, because I've been anxiously awaiting this launch/deployment for what seems like forever.Laura1013 said:As of right now, all technical problems have been cleared. The biggest concern is the May 31 launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery. If that launch is delayed, so will the GLAST launch be. Weather is another concern. Unexpected technical delays can arise at any time, but right now, it's all clear.
http://glast.gsfc.nasa.gov/NASA Targets Glast Launch For June 7
NASA has set June 7 as the new target launch date for the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch window extends from 11:45 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. EDT and remains unchanged through Aug. 7.
Laura1013 said:Sadly, I've canceled my trip to Florida. The current status is no earlier than June 9, but it changes every day.
That's too bad Laura. It's hard to plan a trip around a project like this - I had hoped that the delays were over, but feared that they were not. GLAST's schedule has been slipping routinely. At least the end is in sight, since the launch vehicle is assembled and ready.Laura1013 said:Sadly, I've canceled my trip to Florida. The current status is no earlier than June 9, but it changes every day.
GLAST (Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope) is a space-based observatory designed to study gamma-ray sources in the universe. It is scheduled for launch on 3 June.
The main purpose of GLAST is to study gamma-ray sources and their properties, including black holes, pulsars, and supernova remnants. It will also help scientists gain a better understanding of the high-energy processes that occur in the universe.
GLAST will use its Large Area Telescope (LAT) to detect gamma rays and its GLAST Burst Monitor (GBM) to detect gamma-ray bursts. It will then transmit the data back to Earth using a high-speed satellite link.
GLAST has a large field of view, allowing it to scan the sky faster than previous gamma-ray telescopes. It also has high sensitivity and will be able to detect gamma rays with energies ranging from 20 MeV to more than 300 GeV.
GLAST could potentially discover new sources of gamma rays, study the nature of dark matter, and provide insights into the processes behind cosmic rays. It could also help scientists better understand the role of black holes in the universe.