NSSDCA ID: 1991-027B-04
Mission Name: Compton Gamma-Ray ObservatoryThe instrument is a pictorial-type telescope using a digitized spark chamber to identify the electron pair produced by a gamma-ray interaction, and a large NaI(Tl) scintillator crystal to determine the gamma-ray energy. The specific objectives of the experiment are (1) to search for localized sources (e.g., neutron stars, black holes) in the 20 MeV to 30 GeV range and study their properties, (2) to improve location accuracy of known sources, (3) to search for evidence of cosmic-ray particle acceleration in supernova remnants, (4) to study gamma-ray bursts and line emission from solar flares, (5) to obtain a detailed picture of the diffuse gamma-ray emission from our galaxy, and study galactic dynamics, cosmic-ray composition, and magnetic fields, (6) to study other galaxies, both normal and peculiar, and (7) to study the diffuse celestial radiation as it relates to cosmology.
Mass: 1815 kg
Power (avg): 190 W
Bit rate (avg): 6.859 kbps
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. Cynthia Y. Cheung
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. David L. Bertsch | Co-Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | dlb@sage0.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Dr. Robert C. Hartman | Co-Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | rch@sage0.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Dr. Donald A. Kniffen | Co-Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | donk@ceres.hsc.edu |
Dr. David J. Thompson | Co-Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | djt@sage0.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Mr. A. J. Favale | Co-Investigator | Grumman Aerospace Corporation | |
Mr. Edward J. Schneid | Co-Investigator | Grumman Aerospace Corporation | edward.schneid@dp.ail.com |
Dr. M. K. Sommer | Co-Investigator | Max-Planck-Institut fur Extraterrestrische Physik | |
Dr. H. A. Mayer-Hasselwander | Co-Investigator | Max-Planck-Institut fur Extraterrestrische Physik | |
Dr. H. Rothermel | Co-Investigator | Max-Planck-Institut fur Extraterrestrische Physik | |
Dr. Boudewijn N. Swanenburg | General Contact | Rijksuniversiteit te Leiden | |
Dr. Reuven Ramaty | General Contact | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | |
Dr. Giovanni F. Bignami | General Contact | Universita degli Studi di Milano | gfb@itctr.mi.cnr.it |
Prof. Jonathan E. Grindlay | General Contact | Harvard College Observatory | |
Dr. Jacques A. Paul | General Contact | Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay | |
Mr. E. Barrie Hughes | Other Investigator | Stanford University | |
Dr. Carl E. Fichtel | Principal Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | fichtel@lheavx.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Dr. Robert Hofstadter | Principal Investigator | Stanford University | |
Dr. Klaus Pinkau | Principal Investigator | Max-Planck-Institut fur Extraterrestrische Physik |