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Observatories and Instruments

Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer

Space-Based Observatories

A NASA X-ray space telescope launched in 1995 and named for the physicist Bruno Rossi, a pioneer of X-ray astronomy, designed to study the rapid brightness variations of neutron stars and black holes on timescales of milliseconds. It operated for sixteen years, far past its planned lifetime, before being decommissioned in 2012.

Facts
Observatory Type
NASA X-ray satellite 1
Location
low Earth orbit, altitude 409 km, inclination 28.50 degrees 1
Operational
from 1995 1
Measures
X-rays from black holes, neutron stars, X-ray pulsars and X-ray bursts 1
Operating Principle
The Proportional Counter Array combined five proportional counters into a large collecting area for fast X-ray timing 1
Classification
Observing Band
X-ray 1
Connections

Operated By

NASA, Space Agencies and Companies
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
  • Lead section
    The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) was a NASA satellite that observed the time variation of astronomical X-ray sources, named after physicist Bruno Rossi.
  • Infobox, orbital parameters
    Perigee altitude 409 km (254 mi), Apogee altitude 409 km (254 mi), Inclination 28.50°
  • Infobox, launch date
    30 December 1995, 13:48:00 UTC
  • Overview section
    The RXTE observed X-rays from black holes, neutron stars, X-ray pulsars and X-ray bursts.
  • Instruments section
    The PCA was an array of five proportional counters with a total collecting area of 6,500 cm2 (1,010 sq in).
  • Lead section, second clause
    The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) was a NASA satellite that observed the time variation of astronomical X-ray sources, named after physicist Bruno Rossi.
  • In Group: X-ray and Gamma-Ray Space Observatories, Lead sentence
    The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) was a NASA satellite that observed the time variation of astronomical X-ray sources, named after physicist Bruno Rossi.
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Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationOperated By: NASA, Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
Quote, Operated By: NASA, Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
Operator: NASA
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