Gamma (satellite)

Gamma
Drawing of the Gamma space telescope satellite. The spaceframe and subsystems of the satellite were based on the Progress spacecraft
OperatorRKA
COSPAR ID1990-058A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.20683
Mission duration2 years
Spacecraft properties
BusSoyuz
Launch mass7,350 kg (16,200 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch dateJuly 11, 1990 (1990-07-11)
RocketSoyuz-U2[2][3]
Launch siteBaikonur Site 1/5[3]
End of mission
Decay dateFebruary 28, 1992 (1992-02-28)
Orbital parameters
Eccentricity0.00326
Perigee altitude190 km[2]
Apogee altitude233 km[2]
Inclination51.6°
Period88.45  min
Main
WavelengthsGamma ray
Instruments
Gamma-1 telescope (50 MeV to 6 GeV)[4]
Disk-M telescope (20 keV to 5 MeV)[4]
Pulsar X-2 telescope (2–25 keV)[4]

Gamma was a Soviet gamma ray telescope. It was launched on 11 July 1990 into an orbit around Earth with a height of 375 km and an inclination of 51.6 degrees. It lasted for around 2 years. On board the mission were three telescopes, all of which could be pointed at the same source. The project was a joint Soviet-French project.[4]

  1. ^ Darling, David. "Gamma (Soviet orbiting telescope)". www.daviddarling.info. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  2. ^ a b c "NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "Gamma". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  4. ^ a b c d "The Gamma Satellite". NASA. Retrieved 2008-03-01.