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The International Astrophysical Observatory "GRANAT", was a Soviet space observatory developed in collaboration with France, Denmark and Bulgaria. It was launched on 1 December 1989 aboard a Proton rocket and placed in a highly eccentric four-day orbit, of which three were devoted to observations. It operated for almost nine years.
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X-ray emission occurs from many celestial objects. These emissions can have a pattern, occur intermittently, or as a transient astronomical event. In X-ray astronomy many sources have been discovered by placing an X-ray detector above the Earth's atmosphere. Often, the first X-ray source discovered in many constellations is an X-ray transient. These objects show changing levels of X-ray emission. NRL astronomer Dr. Joseph Lazio stated: " ... the sky is known to be full of transient objects emitting at X- and gamma-ray wavelengths, ...". There are a growing number of recurrent X-ray transients. In the sense of traveling as a transient, the only stellar X-ray source that does not belong to a constellation is the Sun. As seen from Earth, the Sun moves from west to east along the ecliptic, passing over the course of one year through the twelve constellations of the Zodiac, and Ophiuchus.
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The Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO) Pathfinder is a space observatory measuring prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRB) both in optical/UV and in X-ray range down to sub-second timescales for the first time. Instead of turning the whole satellite towards GRB location like the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission, UFFO employs a slewing mirror telescope approach – the optical path of the telescope is changed by rotation of motorized mirror within ~1 second after burst was detected.
The Minisat 01 was a satellite developed in Spain as means to kickstart its space program. The project started in 1990 and was funded by both the Inter-Ministerial Committee of Space Science and Technology (CICYT) and the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA) who was also responsible for the project's management. After some feasibility studies, the satellite entered design phase in 1993. The main objectives of the program were to develop a technology demonstrator to test and develop the nation's capabilities to produce and manage spacecraft. To this end, INTA teamed up with private enterprises and universities to acquire funds and resources. Nonetheless, emphasis was also put on keeping the costs to a minimum and to ensure affordability.
SROSS-C2 or Stretched Rohini Satellite Series C2 was a satellite developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It conducted research on Gamma Ray Bursts in Low Earth Orbit. It was launched on 4 May 1994 using an ASLV rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "SROSS A, B, C, C2 Quicklook". Archived from the original on 2009-04-11. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ↑ "SROSS". Archived from the original on December 28, 2016.
- 1 2 "Stretched Rohini Satellite Series 3 & C2".
- ↑ "Cosmic gamma ray bursts - Recent developments and observations from SROSS satellites" (PDF). Current Science Research Journal. 10 Nov 1995.
- ↑ "IPN3 Home Page".
- ↑ Kasturirangan, K.; Padmini, V. N.; Prasad, N. L.; Rao, U. R.; Seetha, S. (7 Aug 1995). "Recent gamma-ray burst observations from the SROSS-C2 satellite". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 322: 778. Bibcode:1997A&A...322..778K.
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