3-D (Electronic Assembly, High Resolution Imaging, ROSAT): 124.5 × 68.6 × 67.3cm, 67.1kg (4 ft. 1 in. × 2 ft. 3 in. × 2 ft. 2 1/2 in., 148lb.)
3-D (Aluminum Pallet Storage): 152.4 × 121.9 × 96.5cm, 108.9kg (5 ft. × 4 ft. × 3 ft. 2 in., 240lb.)
Type:
INSTRUMENTS-Scientific
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Summary:
This is a part of the electronics box from the engineering model for the high-resolution imager (HRI) flown on the ROSAT (Roentgen Satellite) spacecraft. This imager consists of a pair of stacked microchannel plates backed by a grid of crossed wires. This HRI was developed for NASA by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. It provided improved sensitivity over an imager used on the earlier Einstein Observatory. ROSAT, named after the discoverer of X-rays, Wilhelm Roentgen, was an international mission aimed at exploring the high-energy universe. It was a cooperative effort between Germany, the United States and Great Britain.
The satellite, which was designed and operated by Germany, was placed in orbit board a Delta II launch vehicle in June 1990. It collected data until February 1999. During that time ROSAT obtained an all sky survey in the X-ray region as well as detailed observations of many galaxies.
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory transferred this object to the Museum in 2002.
Credit Line:
Transferred from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
