Astro Observatory (ASTRO 1 & 2)
Full Name: Astro Observatory
Phase: Past
Launch Date: December 02, 1990
Mission Project Home Page: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=ASTRO-1
The "Astro Observatory" was developed as a system of telescopes that could fly multiple times on the space shuttle. Astro-1 consisted of three ultraviolet telescopes and an X-ray telescope. The primary objectives of this observatory were to obtain (1) imagery in the spectral range 1200-3100 A (Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope, UIT); (2) spectrophotometry in the spectral region 425 to 1850 A (Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, HUT); (3) spectrapolarimetry from 1250 to 3200 A (Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photopolarimetry Experiment, WUPPE); and (4) X-ray data in the bandpass between 0.3 and 12 keV (Broad Band X-ray Telescope, BBXRT). Since many science objectives and selected astronomical targets of the three instrument teams were inter-related, simultaneous observations by all four instruments were planned.
Astro-1 consisted of three ultraviolet telescopes and an X-ray telescope flown in the shuttle payload bay. Since many science objectives and selected astronomical targets of the instrument teams were inter-related, simultaneous observations by all four instruments were performed. The Astro observatory required both mission specialists and payload specialists to control its operations from the Shuttle aft flight deck. The Astro-1 mission was launched December 2, 1990, and returned to Earth December 11, 1990. Astro-2 was the second Astro mission flown in the shuttle payload bay, and consisted of the three ultraviolet telescopes; the x-ray telescope was not flown on Astro-2. The mission launched in March 1995.
The telescopes were mounted on a Spacelab pallet in the payload bay of the shuttle (flight STS-35). The Spacelab Instrument Pointing System (IPS), pallets, and avionics were utilized for attachment to the Shuttle and for control and data handling. Astro-1 required both mission specialists and payload specialists to control its operations from the Shuttle aft flight deck. Instrument monitoring and quick-look data analysis were performed for real-time ground operations. During the flight both on-board Digital Display Units malfunctioned, and the star guidance system calibration was not possible. The observing sequences were rescheduled during the flight, and instrument pointing was done by hand by the astronauts, and from the ground.
As a result of the numerous technical glitches, the returned data volume was less than half of that originally planned, and the scientific return was about 67% of the stated goals of the mission. Astro-1 was returned to Earth 17:54 U.T., December 11, 1990. However, the mission was very successful in that 231 observations of 130 unique astronomical targets were made.