Small Astronomy Satellites (SAS)

Name of three NASA spacecraft deployed in the 1970s for X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy. SAS-1, launched in 1970 from the Italian San Marco platform off the coast of Kenya, was the first satellite dedicated to X-ray astronomy. After launch, it was given the name Uhuru, which means "freedom" in Swahili, because the launch date of 12 December coincided with the seventh anniversary of Kenya's independence. SAS-2, launched in 1972, was the first satellite to carry a gamma-ray detector. SAS-3, which followed in 1975, carried further X-ray experiments.