Swift Observing Strategy and Data Flow
Jump to:
- Overview
- Observing Strategy - detailed timeline of standard GRB observation
- Data Products Timeline - how soon new data products are available after burst detection
- GCN Notices - how Swift uses the GCN (work in progress)
- Follow-up Observations
Overview - Swift Observation and Data Flow
(explanatory text below diagram)
- Swift observes pre-planned targets until a gamma-ray burst is detected within the BAT field of view
- Swift autonomously slews to point narrow-field instruments (NFIs) at the burst and sends early burst data to ground via TDRSS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System)
- TDRSS data go to the Mission Operations Center (MOC) at Penn State University (PSU) and to the astronomical community via the Gamma-ray burst Coordinates Network (GCN)
- Full science and housekeeping data from the burst are downloaded at the Malindi Ground Station during the next telemetry pass (there are typically 9-12 passes per day)
- Mission Operations Center relays all data to the Swift Data Center (SDC) for processing
- Quick-Look data are available on the web within 3 hours after receipt by SDC
- Archive sites receive full, final processing of data after the last observation is completely processed (usually about one week)
- Follow-up observations performed by the astrophysics community may be uploaded to Archive, at the observers' discretion
- Swift also use TDRSS for rapid response to target of opportunity (ToO) observations. These can be gamma-ray bursts found by other observatories, or other targets with compelling science
- The Swift Science Center (SSC) provides user-support, documentation, data analysis software and techniques, and answers questions from the community.
If you have a question about Swift, please contact us via the Feedback form.