|
|
|
|
BeppoSAX
eppoSAX is a major program of the Italian Space Agency
with participation of the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programs. It was
launched on April 30 1996 from Cape Canaveral and it is still operational.
It is the first X-ray mission with a scientific payload covering more
than three decades of energy - from 0.1 to 300 keV - with a relatively large effective
area, medium energy resolution and imaging capabilities in the range of 0.1-10 keV.
Mission Characteristics
Lifetime : 30 April 1996 to the present
Energy Range : 0.1 - 300 keV
Special Features : Broad-band energy
Payload :
- The Narrow field Instruments (NFI):
- Four Xray telescopes working in conjunction with one of the following detectors:
- Low Energy Concentrator Spectrometer (LECS)
(one unit) 0.1-10 keV, eff area 22 cm2 @ 0.28 keV,
FOV 37´ diameter, angular resolution 9.7´
FWHM @ 0.28 keV.
- Medium Energy Concentrator Spectrometer (MECS)
(three units) 1.3-10 keV, eff area total 150 cm2 @ 6
keV, FOV 56´ diameter, angular resolution for 50% total
signal radius 75" @ 6 keV.
- High pressure Gas Scintillator Proportional Counter (HPGSPC)
4-120 keV, eff area 240 cm2 @ 30 keV
- Phoswich Detection System (PDS)
15-300 keV. The lateral shields of the PDS are used as gamma-ray
burst monitor in the range of 60-600 keV. Eff area 600
cm2 @ 80 keV
- Wide Field Camera
(2 units) 2-30 keV with a field of view 20 deg X 20 deg. The WFC are
perpendicular to the axis of the NFI and point in opposite directions
to each other. Eff area 140 cm2.
Science Highlight:
- X-ray imaging the sources associated with Gamma-ray bursts
and determining their positions with an unprecedented precision.
- Monitoring the X-ray afterglow of Gamma-ray bursts
Archive : Spectra, Lightcurves, Images and Raw data for
the MECS, LECS and PDS.
[BeppoSAX US Coordination Facility] (http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/sax/saxgof.html)
|
|
