NASA's Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, is receiving finishing touches at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, near the beaches of eastern central Florida for its launch.
GLAST Mission Coverage
Spacecraft Readied for Pad
Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett › View larger image
› View GLAST Image Gallery At the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians completed the final closeouts of the GLAST spacecraft in preparation for transporting it to the launch pad over the weekend. The spacecraft was installed Friday into the payload transportation canister in preparation for transfer to the pad. Earlier in the week, workers lower the GLAST spacecraft on to the payload attach fitting. Once at the pad, the fitting will be used to join the spacecraft to the Delta II rocket that will carry it to space. Liftoff is set for no earlier than June 3 during a window that runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. EDT .
GLAST: Exploring the Extreme Universe
NASA's Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) is a powerful space observatory that will open a wide window on the universe. Gamma rays are the highest-energy form of light, and the gamma-ray sky is spectacularly different from the one we perceive with our own eyes. With a huge leap in all key capabilities, GLAST data will enable scientists to answer persistent questions across a broad range of topics, including supermassive black-hole systems, pulsars, the origin of cosmic rays, and searches for signals of new physics. The mission is an astrophysics and particle physics partnership, developed by NASA in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, along with important contributions from academic institutions and partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and the U.S.
Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett › View larger image
› View GLAST Image Gallery At the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians completed the final closeouts of the GLAST spacecraft in preparation for transporting it to the launch pad over the weekend. The spacecraft was installed Friday into the payload transportation canister in preparation for transfer to the pad. Earlier in the week, workers lower the GLAST spacecraft on to the payload attach fitting. Once at the pad, the fitting will be used to join the spacecraft to the Delta II rocket that will carry it to space. Liftoff is set for no earlier than June 3 during a window that runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. EDT .
GLAST: Exploring the Extreme Universe
NASA's Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) is a powerful space observatory that will open a wide window on the universe. Gamma rays are the highest-energy form of light, and the gamma-ray sky is spectacularly different from the one we perceive with our own eyes. With a huge leap in all key capabilities, GLAST data will enable scientists to answer persistent questions across a broad range of topics, including supermassive black-hole systems, pulsars, the origin of cosmic rays, and searches for signals of new physics. The mission is an astrophysics and particle physics partnership, developed by NASA in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, along with important contributions from academic institutions and partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and the U.S.
Features
NASA's GLAST Gets Shades, Blankets for the Beach
Powerful Antenna Attached to NASA's GLAST Satellite
The powerful antenna system that will enable NASA's GLAST to communicate with stations on Earth has been successfully connected to the spacecraft.
GLAST Rocket Coming Together
The Delta II 7920-H rocket that will launch GLAST is in the process of being assembled on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Background Features
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History of Cosmic Discovery: Opening New Windows
An old saying goes: Those who don’t remember the past are condemned to repeat it. But research astronomers are quite content to repeat the history of their field, and for good reason.
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A Timeline of Gamma-Ray Astronomy
Learn more about the timeline of Gamma-Ray Astronomy.
GLAST Multimedia
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Prepare to Launch!
Follow the Delta II rocket and GLAST spacecraft during preparations for liftoff.
› View Image Gallery
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Test Your Knowledge
Find out if you've got the right stuff to plot the course for future space missions.
› Take the Quiz
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Mission to the Universe
Go behind the scenes as a Delta II rocket prepares to launch the GLAST spacecraft.