NASA NuSTAR delivers the X-ray goods

Artist's concept of NuSTAR on orbit. NuSTAR has a 10-m (30') mast that deploys after launch to separate the optics modules (right) from the detectors in the focal plane (left). 

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), is giving the wider astronomical community a first look at its unique X-ray images of the cosmos.

The first batch of data from the black-hole hunting telescope was publicly available on Aug. 29, via NASA's High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center, (HEASARC).

Fiona Harrison

"We are pleased to present the world with NuSTAR's first look at the sky in high-energy X-rays with a true focusing telescope," said Fiona Harrison, the mission's principal investigator at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena.

The images, taken from July to August 2012, shortly after the spacecraft launched, comprise an assortment of extreme objects, including black holes near and far.

The more distant black holes are some of the most luminous objects in the universe, radiating X-rays as they ferociously consume surrounding gas.

One type of black hole in the new batch of data is a blazar, which is an active, supermassive black hole pointing a jet toward Earth.

Systems known as X-ray binaries, in which a compact object such as a neutron star or black hole feeds off a stellar companion, are also in the mix, along with the remnants of stellar blasts called supernovas.

The data set only contains complete observations. Data will be released at a later date for those targets still being observed.

"Astronomers can use these data to better understand the capabilities of NuSTAR and design future observing proposals. The first opportunity will be this fall, for joint observations with XMM-Newton," said Karl Forster of Caltech, who is leading the effort to package the data for the public.

The European Space Agency's XMM-Newton X-ray telescope, like NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, complements NuSTAR.

While XMM-Newton and Chandra see lower-energy X-ray light, NuSTAR is the first telescope capable of focusing high-energy X-ray light, allowing for more detailed images than were possible before.

Astronomers can compare data sets from different missions using HEASARC, which gives them a broader understanding of an object of interest.

NuSTAR's high-energy observations help scientists bridge a gap that existed previously in X-ray astronomy, and will lead to new revelations about the bizarre and energetic side of our universe.

Other NASA missions with data available via HEASARC include Chandra, Fermi, Swift, Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and many more.

GeMS System: Revolutionary instrument delivers sharper universe to astronomers

These are images from the Gemini Multi-conjugate adaptive optics System (GeMS) System Verification science observations. 

Credit: Gemini Observatory

A unique new instrument at Gemini South in Chile takes the removal of atmospheric distortions (using adaptive optics technology) to a new level.

Today's release of seven ultrasharp, large-field images from the instrument's first science observations demonstrate its remarkable discovery potential.

Astronomers recently got their hands on Gemini Observatory's revolutionary new adaptive optics system, called GeMS, "and the data are truly spectacular!" says Robert Blum, Deputy Director of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory with funding by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

"What we have seen so far signals an incredible capability that leaps ahead of anything in space or on the ground – and it will for some time."

Blum is currently using GeMS to study the environments in and around star clusters, and his preliminary data, targeting the spectacular cluster identified as RMC 136, are among a set of seven images released today.

The remaining six images –– spanning views of violent star-forming regions, to the graceful interaction of distant colliding galaxies –– only hint at the diversity of cutting-edge research that GeMS enables.

After more than a decade in development, the system, now in regular use at the Gemini South telescope in Chile, is streaming ultrasharp data to scientists around the world – providing a new level of detail in their studies of the universe.

The images made public today show the scientific discovery power of GeMS (derived from the Gemini Multi-conjugate adaptive optics System), which uses a potent combination of multiple lasers and deformable mirrors to remove atmospheric distortions (blurriness) from ground-based images.

Unlike previous AO systems, GeMS uses a technique called "multi-conjugate adaptive optics," which not only captures more of the sky in a single shot (between 10- to 20-times more area of sky imaged in each "picture") but also forms razor-sharp images uniformly across the entire field, from top-to-bottom and edge-to-edge.

This makes Gemini's 8-meter mirror 10- to 20-times more efficient, giving astronomers the option to either expose deeper, or explore the universe more effectively with a wider range of filters, which will allow them to pick out subtle yet important structural details never seen before.

"Each image tells a story about the scientific potential of GeMS," says Benoit Neichel who led the GeMS commissioning effort in Chile.

According to Neichel, the targets were selected to demonstrate the instrument's diverse "discovery space" while producing striking images that would make astronomers say, "I need that!"

More information: The new images, shown as a collage, as well as images of the system in operation in Chile, are available as high-resolution downloads at: www.gemini.edu/12020

Europe's ATV-4 ready to deliver essential cargo to Space Station

ESA’s fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, is ready for launch on an Ariane 5 to the International Space Station on 5 June from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Liftoff is set for 23:52 CEST (21:52 GMT), and three hours and four minutes later the vessel will separate from the launcher to begin ten days of health checks and orbital manoeuvres, bringing it to an automated docking with the Station on 15 June.

ATV Albert Einstein, named after the scientist most famous for developing the theory of relativity, will deliver essential supplies and reboost the Station’s altitude during its planned five-month stay in orbit.

With a launch mass of 20 235 kg, it is the heaviest spacecraft ever launched by Europe, and it is carrying the largest load of dry cargo yet to be ferried by any ATV.

The spacecraft is four vehicles in one, bringing equipment and supplies, replenishing the Station’s propellant tanks, keeping the orbital outpost aloft with its boosts, and providing a module for the astronauts to live in.

Zenit Rocket Delivers New Communications Satellite to Orbit

A new satellite to broadcast video and data services to Russia and the Middle East was successfully released in geosynchronous transfer orbit Monday, six hours after a middle-of-the-night blastoff from Kazakhstan aboard a Land Launch Zenit rocket.

The 192-foot-tall Zenit 3SLB lit its RD-171 main engine and roared away from pad 45 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 2100 GMT (4 p.m. EST), or 3 a.m. local time in Kazakhstan.

The first stage drained its kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants two-and-a-half minutes after launch, giving way to the Zenit's second stage to continue the push toward space. The payload fairing jettisoned on time five minutes into the mission and the second stage separated from the rocket's Block DM-SLB upper stage eight-and-a-half minutes after launch.

The kerosene-fueled upper stage ignited for three-and-a-half minutes to push the Intelsat 15 satellite into a low-altitude parking orbit.

The Block DM engine fired two more times to raise Intelsat 15's altitude and put the spacecraft in an elliptical transfer orbit.

The 5,477-pound satellite was deployed around 0330 GMT (10:30 p.m. EST). The rocket was targeting an orbit with a high point of 22,236 miles, a low point of 6,394 miles, and an inclination of 12 degrees.

A ground station acquired the first signals from Intelsat 15 a few minutes later, according to Sea Launch.

"I want to congratulate Intelsat and Orbital for a very successful mission," said Kjell Karlsen, president and general manager of Sea Launch. "This is the 10th satellite we've orbited for Intelsat and we look forward to launching many more satellites for you in the future."

Intelsat 15 will next unfurl its power-generating solar arrays and fire its on-board propulsion system to reach a circular geosynchronous orbit over the equator 22,300 miles above Earth. The spacecraft will also deploy two 7.5-foot antenna reflectors in the next couple of weeks.

After in-orbit testing, the satellite will begin operations from a slot at 85 degrees east longitude, where it will replace the Intelsat 709 spacecraft launched in 1996.

Intelsat 15 will provide data and video communications services to Russia, the Middle East, and Indian Ocean regions for up to 17 years.

The satellite's 22 Ku-band transponders will be attached to two communications beams focused on the Middle East and Russia. The coverage zone stretches from North Africa and eastern Europe to Siberia.

Orbital Sciences Corp. built Intelsat 15 based on the company's Star spacecraft bus.

The Land Launch mission is the first commercial Zenit launch since Sea Launch filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June. Intelsat received permission from a Delaware bankruptcy court to bypass Sea Launch and make payments directly to Moscow-based Space International Services Ltd., Sea Launch's Russian partner in the Land Launch venture.

Intelsat plans to launch another satellite on Land Launch in 2011.

"Our relationship with Sea Launch is testament to our desire for maintaining a robust launcher industry, and today's mission marks the fourth success on their Land Launch system. I want to thank everyone who worked diligently to ensure a flawless mission for Intelsat 15. We look forward to our next Land Launch mission that is slated to carry our Intelsat 18 satellite into orbit in 2011," said Ken Lee, Intelsat's senior vice president of space systems.

Sea Launch has secured early financing to continue operations and plans to emerge from bankruptcy early next year. The ocean-based Zenit 3SL rocket could return to flight with a payload for Eutelsat by the end of 2010, according to company officials.

Intelsat 15 was the third satellite launched for Intelsat in the last month. An Ariane 5 rocket launched the Norwegian Thor 6 spacecraft Oct. 29 and an Atlas 5 launcher orbited the Intelsat 14 satellite Nov. 23.