Taylor M Potter

Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOSO-1Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OSO-1 observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta
Science instruments: Solar ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-ray, neutron, and dust experiments

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOSO-2Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OSO-2 observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta C
Science instruments: Solar ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-ray, and celestial-radiation instruments

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOAO-1Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OAO-1 observatory
Launch vehicle: Atlas-Agena D
Science instruments: Four ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray experiment packages on a precision-pointed observatory bus

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOSO-3Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OSO-3 observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta C
Science instruments: Sun-pointed instruments, 7.7–210 keV X-ray telescope, and gamma-ray telescope above 50 MeV

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOSO-4Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OSO-4 observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta C
Science instruments: Two pointed solar instruments and seven wheel-mounted ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray experiments

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOAO-2Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OAO-2 observatory
Launch vehicle: Atlas-Centaur
Science instruments: Smithsonian ultraviolet telescopes and Wisconsin stellar-experiment ultraviolet photometers

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOSO-5Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OSO-5 observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta C
Science instruments: Solar instruments and a 14–200 keV cosmic X-ray background spectrometer

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOSO-6Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OSO-6 observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta N
Science instruments: Solar monitoring instruments and hard X-ray detectors spanning roughly 23–500 keV

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOAO-BLow Earth orbit

Observatory: OAO-B observatory
Launch vehicle: Atlas-Centaur
Science instruments: Goddard ultraviolet telescope and supporting observatory systems

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatorySAS-1Near-equatorial low Earth orbit

Observatory: SAS-1 observatory
Launch vehicle: Scout B
Science instruments: Two banks of 2–20 keV proportional counters

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOSO-7Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OSO-7 observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta N
Science instruments: Solar X-ray and gamma-ray instruments plus all-sky cosmic X-ray monitors

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOAO-3Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OAO-3 observatory
Launch vehicle: Atlas-Centaur
Science instruments: Princeton 80-centimeter ultraviolet telescope and University College London X-ray experiment

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatorySAS-2Near-equatorial low Earth orbit

Observatory: SAS-2 observatory
Launch vehicle: Scout D-1
Science instruments: Spark-chamber gamma-ray telescope sensitive above about 35 MeV

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatorySAS-3Near-equatorial low Earth orbit

Observatory: SAS-3 observatory
Launch vehicle: Scout F-1
Science instruments: Rotating modulation collimators, proportional counters, and X-ray transient monitors

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryOSO-8Low Earth orbit

Observatory: OSO-8 observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta 1910
Science instruments: Pointed solar instruments and high-resolution cosmic X-ray spectroscopy experiments

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryHEAO-1Low Earth orbit

Observatory: HEAO-1 observatory
Launch vehicle: Atlas-Centaur
Science payload: Large-area X-ray survey, cosmic X-ray, hard X-ray and low-energy gamma-ray, and X-ray modulation-collimator experiments

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryInternational Ultraviolet ExplorerGeosynchronous elliptical Earth orbit

Observatory: International Ultraviolet Explorer observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta 2914
Science payload: 45-centimeter telescope with short- and long-wavelength ultraviolet spectrographs covering 115 to 325 nanometers

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryEinstein ObservatoryLow Earth orbit

Observatory: Einstein Observatory observatory
Launch vehicle: Atlas-Centaur
Science payload: Grazing-incidence imaging X-ray telescope with high-resolution imager, imaging proportional counter, spectrometers, and crystal spectrometer

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryHEAO-3Low Earth orbit

Observatory: HEAO-3 observatory
Launch vehicle: Atlas-Centaur
Science payload: High-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer, heavy-nuclei cosmic-ray experiment, and isotope-composition detector

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryIRASSun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Observatory: IRAS observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta 3910
Science payload: Cryogenic 57-centimeter infrared telescope, four-band survey array, low-resolution spectrometer, and chopped photometric channel

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryCOBESun-synchronous polar low Earth orbit

Observatory: COBE observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta 5920
Science payload: Differential Microwave Radiometers, Far Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer, and Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryHubble Space TelescopeLow Earth orbit, roughly 300 miles (483 kilometers) high

Observatory: Hubble Space Telescope observatory
Launch vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery
Science payload: 2.4-meter ultraviolet, visible-light, and near-infrared telescope with replaceable cameras, spectrographs, and fine-guidance sensors

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryROSAT580-kilometer low Earth orbit at 53 degrees inclination

Observatory: ROSAT observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta II 6920
Science payload: Wolter X-ray telescope with Position Sensitive Proportional Counter and High Resolution Imager, plus a Wide Field Camera for extreme-ultraviolet observations

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryCompton Gamma Ray ObservatoryLow Earth orbit

Observatory: Compton Gamma Ray Observatory observatory
Launch vehicle: Space Shuttle Atlantis
Science payload: BATSE, OSSE, COMPTEL, and EGRET instruments spanning six orders of magnitude in gamma-ray energy

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryExtreme Ultraviolet ExplorerLow Earth orbit

Observatory: Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta II 6920
Science payload: Three grazing-incidence scanning telescopes and a deep-survey telescope with extreme-ultraviolet spectrometers

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Uncrewed high-energy astronomy observatoryRossi X-ray Timing ExplorerLow Earth orbit

Observatory: Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7920-10
Science payload: Proportional Counter Array, High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment, and All-Sky Monitor spanning roughly 2 to 250 kiloelectronvolts

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryFar Ultraviolet Spectroscopic ExplorerLow Earth orbit

Observatory: Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7320
Science payload: Four coaligned grazing-incidence telescopes feeding four Rowland-circle spectrographs from about 90 to 120 nanometers

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryChandra X-ray ObservatoryHighly elliptical Earth orbit above the radiation belts for long observations

Observatory: Chandra X-ray Observatory observatory
Launch vehicle: Space Shuttle Columbia
Science payload: High Resolution Mirror Assembly, ACIS imaging spectrometer, HRC camera, and high- and low-energy transmission gratings

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X-ray, ultraviolet, and visible-light space observatoryXMM-Newton48-hour highly elliptical Earth orbit

EPIC MOS cameras: Two imaging cameras combine high spatial resolution with timing and spectroscopy
EPIC-pn camera: A high-sensitivity focal-plane camera records faint and rapidly varying X-ray sources
Reflection Grating Spectrometers: Two grating spectrometers resolve the composition and physical state of X-ray-emitting matter

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Gamma-ray, X-ray, and optical space observatoryINTEGRALThree-day highly elliptical Earth orbit

SPI spectrometer: Germanium detectors measure narrow gamma-ray lines and diffuse emission from 18 kiloelectronvolts to 8 megaelectronvolts
IBIS imager: A coded-mask telescope provides fine source location and broad-band gamma-ray imaging
JEM-X monitors: Twin X-ray instruments identify and track lower-energy counterparts in the central field

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryGalaxy Evolution ExplorerLow Earth orbit

Observatory: Galaxy Evolution Explorer observatory
Launch vehicle: Pegasus XL
Science payload: 50-centimeter wide-field ultraviolet telescope with far- and near-ultraviolet photon-counting detectors and slitless spectroscopy

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatorySpitzer Space TelescopeEarth-trailing heliocentric orbit

Observatory: Spitzer Space Telescope observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7925H
Science payload: 85-centimeter cryogenic telescope with IRAC, IRS, and MIPS infrared instruments

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Uncrewed high-energy astronomy observatoryNeil Gehrels Swift ObservatoryLow Earth orbit

Observatory: Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7320-10C
Science payload: Burst Alert Telescope, X-Ray Telescope, and Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope operating as an autonomous rapid-response system

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Broad-band X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy observatorySuzaku570-kilometer circular low Earth orbit

X-ray Telescope array: Four grazing-incidence optics focus soft X-rays onto focal-plane instruments
X-ray Imaging Spectrometers: CCD cameras provide imaging spectroscopy across the soft X-ray band
Hard X-ray Detector: Silicon and scintillator sensors extend non-imaging coverage toward gamma-ray energies

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Cryogenic infrared survey observatoryAKARIApproximately 700-kilometer polar Earth orbit

68.5-centimeter cryogenic telescope: A cooled optical system suppresses thermal glow for sensitive infrared observations
Far-Infrared Surveyor: Detector arrays scan the sky in four bands from 50 to 180 micrometers
Infrared Camera: Three channels image and obtain spectra from near- to mid-infrared wavelengths

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Uncrewed high-energy astronomy observatoryFermi Gamma-ray Space TelescopeLow Earth orbit

Observatory: Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7920-H
Science payload: Large Area Telescope and Gamma-ray Burst Monitor covering roughly eight kiloelectronvolts to more than 300 gigaelectronvolts

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryKeplerEarth-trailing heliocentric orbit

Observatory: Kepler observatory
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7925-10L
Science payload: 0.95-meter Schmidt telescope and 95-megapixel photometer measuring repeated stellar brightness changes

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Uncrewed high-energy astronomy observatoryNuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ArrayLow Earth orbit

Observatory: Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array observatory
Launch vehicle: Pegasus XL
Science payload: Twin focusing hard-X-ray telescopes separated from their detectors by a deployable 10-meter mast

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High-resolution X-ray and soft gamma-ray observatoryHitomiApproximately 575-kilometer circular low Earth orbit

Soft X-ray Spectrometer: A 50-millikelvin microcalorimeter delivers exceptionally fine X-ray energy resolution
Soft X-ray Imager: A wide-field CCD camera images lower-energy X-ray sources
Hard X-ray Imagers: Focusing telescopes and detectors extend imaging to higher X-ray energies

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Uncrewed orbital astronomy observatoryTransiting Exoplanet Survey SatelliteHighly elliptical 13.7-day lunar-resonant Earth orbit

Observatory: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite observatory
Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 4
Science payload: Four wide-field visible-light cameras covering a 24-by-96-degree sector of sky

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High-precision exoplanet transit observatoryCHEOPS700-kilometer Sun-synchronous dusk-dawn Earth orbit

Ritchey-Chrétien telescope: A 300-millimeter clear aperture gathers light from selected bright host stars
Broad-band CCD photometer: A single detector measures visible-to-near-infrared brightness changes from 350 to 1,100 nanometers
Baffle and cover assembly: Stray-light control protects the focal plane and preserves precision

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AstronautAtlas

Space astronomy

Space astronomy science and payloads

Space astronomy

Space astronomy science and payloads