NSSDC ID: 2004-047A
The Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer is a three-telescope space observatory for studying gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and monitoring the afterglow in X-ray, and UV/Visible light at the location of a burst. Burst detection rate is expected to be greater than 100 per year, with a sensitivity ~3 times fainter than the BATSE detector aboard the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. The Swift mission has a nominal on-orbit lifetime of two years.
Swift is a NASA Midex (medium-class Explorer) mission. It is the third to be launched, following IMAGE and WMAP.
Launch Date: 2004-11-20
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Mass: 1470.0 kg
Nominal Power: 1040.0 W
Questions or comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office.
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Neil Gehrels | Mission Principal Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | gehrels@lheavx.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Mr. Timothy C. Gehringer | Project Manager | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | timothy.c.gehringer@nasa.gov |
The Swift Data Archive at HEASARC
Burst Alert Telescope (BAT)
Ultraviolet and Optical Telescope (UVOT)
X-Ray Telescope (XRT)