The Broad Band X-ray Telescope (BBXRT) was flown on the
Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' (
STS-35
STS-35 was the tenth flight of Space Shuttle ''Columbia'', the 38th shuttle flight, and a mission devoted to astronomical observations with ASTRO-1, a Spacelab observatory consisting of four telescopes. The mission launched from Kennedy Spac ...
) from December 2 through December 11, 1990 as part of the ASTRO-1 payload. The flight of BBXRT marked the first opportunity for performing
X-ray
An X-ray, or, much less commonly, X-radiation, is a penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Most X-rays have a wavelength ranging from 10 picometers to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30&nb ...
observations over a broad energy range (0.3-12 k
eV) with a moderate energy resolution (typically 90 eV and 150 eV at 1 and 6 keV, respectively).
BBXRT was co-mounted with three
ultraviolet telescope
Ultraviolet astronomy is the observation of electromagnetic radiation at ultraviolet wavelengths between approximately 10 and 320 nanometres; shorter wavelengths—higher energy photons—are studied by X-ray astronomy and gamma-ray ast ...
s
HUT
A hut is a small dwelling, which may be constructed of various local materials. Huts are a type of vernacular architecture because they are built of readily available materials such as wood, snow, ice, stone, grass, palm leaves, branches, hid ...
, WUPPE, and HIT for Astro-1 in 1990.
This was, "..the first focusing X-ray telescope operating over a broad energy range 0.3-12 keV with a moderate energy resolution (90 eV at 1 keV and 150eV at 6 keV)." according to NASA.
Hardware
See also
*
Spacelab
Spacelab was a reusable laboratory developed by European Space Agency (ESA) and used on certain spaceflights flown by the Space Shuttle. The laboratory comprised multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized carrier, ...
*
X-ray astronomy
*
List of X-ray space telescopes
X-ray telescopes are designed to observe the x-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum. X-rays from outer space cannot be observed from the ground due to absorption by the atmosphere, and so x-ray telescopes must be launched into orbit. Their m ...
References
External links
Broad Band X-ray Telescope (BBXRT. GSFC. NASA)on the internet
Space telescopes
X-ray telescopes
Crewed space observatories
Space Shuttle program
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