The Small Astronomy Satellite 2 (SAS-2)
![photo of SAS-2](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511201419im_/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/sas2/sas2_clean_small2.gif)
The second NASA Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-2) was dedicated to gamma-ray astronomy in the energy range above 35 MeV. SAS-2 was launched on 1972 November 15 and began operations on 1972 November 19. On 1973 June 8, a failure of the low-voltage power supply ended the collection of data.
Mission Characteristics
![*](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511201419im_/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/heasarc/icons/orangeball.gif)
![*](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511201419im_/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/heasarc/icons/orangeball.gif)
![*](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511201419im_/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/heasarc/icons/orangeball.gif)
- 32-level wire spark-chamber aligned with satellite spin axis (20 MeV-1 GeV), eff. area 540 cm2
![*](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511201419im_/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/heasarc/icons/orangeball.gif)
- The first detailed look at the gamma-ray sky.
- Established the high energy component of diffuse celestial radiation.
- Correlated the gamma-ray background with galactic structural features.
![*](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511201419im_/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/heasarc/icons/orangeball.gif)
HEASARC Home | Observatories | Archive | Calibration | Software | Tools | Students/Teachers/Public
Last modified: Thursday, 26-Jun-2003 13:48:54 EDT