NASA satellite to investigate gamma ray bursts

ToSeek · #1 (**permalink**) 29-July-2004, 05:51 PM

Swift Moves to Florida to Prepare for Launch

Quote:

NASA's Swift satellite is due to arrive at Florida's Cape Canaveral today, to prepare for its launch in October. Named after the fast-moving bird, Swift will track down the fastest and most powerful known explosions in the Universe: gamma ray bursts. Swift has one instrument to detect bursts in the sky, and then it can swing around two high-resolution telescopes in less than a minute for a closer look. It'll also inform the astronomical community of a blast so that anyone watching the sky can tune in as well and watch the explosion unfold. Swift should help turn up more than 100 bursts a year.

Swift · #2 (**permalink**) 29-July-2004, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToSeek

Swift Moves to Florida to Prepare for Launch

Oh no I'm not. I've been there and it's too darn hot! #-o

8-[

The Bad Astronomer · #3 (**permalink**) 29-July-2004, 10:08 PM

I'll be there for launch! We're excited that this major step is done, and the next one is a biggie.

Harvestar · #4 (**permalink**) 29-July-2004, 10:21 PM

Oh, good! I've been hearing about this from the beginning (having been at Penn State).

My ex-boyfriend designed the logo for one of the instruments.

Grendl · #5 (**permalink**) 08-August-2004, 08:18 PM

You folks are very resourceful with links. I was planning on going to FL again in November, but maybe I'll go in October and try to see a launch again. Hmm, a Thursday...not a lot of leeway.

Quote:

Oct. 7 Delta 2 • Swift
Launch window: 1657-1757 GMT (12:57-1:57 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket will launch NASA's Swift gamma-ray burst research spacecraft. The satellite will focus on studying the recently-discovered afterglow from such bursts. The rocket will fly in the 7320 vehicle configuration. Delayed from Dec. 5 and 29, Jan. 14, April 29, July 15 and Sept. 1. [Aug. 6]
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/

I missed this one here by one day

I was at Kennedy on the 22nd, drove home in the rain and lightning and was sure Mother Nature would continue on with her early evening onslaughts. Nope, and I didn't even make it to the beach. I couldn't find anything on TV, had no Internet--better luck next time. I did hear the boom, though, and a fine boom it was.

Thanks!

Glom · #6 (**permalink**) 08-August-2004, 11:07 PM

Woo hoo. Gamma ray bursts. Is the popular theory still that they're from hypernovae?

The Bad Astronomer · #7 (**permalink**) 09-August-2004, 12:22 AM

Some are probably from hypernovae, and others from merging neutron stars. Read all about it. Also on that site is a PowerPoint talk I gave about GRBs. It's terse, because it's supposed to be given by a human and not read over the web, but it has some cool graphics and silly jokes.

Glom · #8 (**permalink**) 09-August-2004, 12:35 AM

Cool. So since GRBs are evenly distributed across the sky, NS mergers must be a very small proportion of GRBs or there would be a small increase in the Milky Way. Is it the case then that the short GRBs are fewer and more localised?

And is that marshmellow unit official?

ToSeek · #9 (**permalink**) 23-September-2004, 04:39 PM

New space telescope will watch powerful cosmic blasts

Quote:

An agile gamma-ray observatory with a focus on the most intense explosions in the cosmos -- cataclysmic blasts occurring every day throughout the universe that seemingly foreshadow the creation of black holes -- will be launched into space October 26.

While circling Earth at an altitude of 375 miles, NASA's Swift spacecraft will detect and study the brilliant bursts of gamma-rays, which erupt in random points across the sky without warning. Swift's scientific data will determine a burst's distance and brightness, plus provide insight into the blast's locale and surroundings to offer clues about what ignites these events.

ToSeek · #10 (**permalink**) 20-October-2004, 04:49 PM

Swift ready to quickly record gamma-rays

Quote:

In the cleanest room at the Cape, a spacecraft that survived hurricanes and delays awaits a chance to study the most energetic explosions in the universe.

Swift is aptly named because it can turn 50 degrees in less than a minute to record fleeting gamma-ray bursts as they occur, as well as immediately inform scientists on Earth so they can observe the bursts, too.

Taibak · #11 (**permalink**) 20-October-2004, 05:58 PM

I'm psyched! Took one of my summer camp classes to Goddard last year and we saw this thing being built. Nice to know it's finally ready to go.

-Taibak

Harvestar · #12 (**permalink**) 20-October-2004, 10:16 PM

I've been waiting for Swift to launch since it was just a twinkle in John Nousek's eye.

And my ex-boyfriend designed the logo for one of the instruments.

That was one of the cool things about being at Penn State.

TravisM · #13 (**permalink**) 21-October-2004, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glom

And is that marshmellow unit official?

Wouldn't that be E=mc^2 ???

Just how much mass does a marshmallow have?

Taibak · #14 (**permalink**) 21-October-2004, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glom

And is that marshmellow unit official?

Wouldn't that be E=mc^2 ???

Just how much mass does a marshmallow have?

Well I suppose that depends on the marshmellow. And how hungry you are.

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