Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory

Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory
	Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory
Names	Explorer-84; MIDEX-3; Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer
Mission type	Gamma-ray astronomy
Operator	NASA / Pennsylvania State University
COSPAR ID	2004-047A
SATCAT no.	28485
Website	swift.gsfc.nasa.gov
Mission duration	2 years (planned) ; 19 years, 6 months, 12 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Explorer LXXXIV
Spacecraft type	Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer
Bus	LEOStar-3
Manufacturer	Spectrum Astro
Launch mass	1,470 kg (3,240 lb)
Dry mass	613 kg (1,351 lb)
Payload mass	843 kg (1,858 lb)
Dimensions	5.6 × 5.4 m (18 × 18 ft)
Power	1040 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	20 November 2004, 17:16:01 UTC
Rocket	Delta II 7320-10C (Delta 309)
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-17A
Contractor	Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Entered service	1 February 2005
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	585 km (364 mi)
Apogee altitude	604 km (375 mi)
Inclination	20.60°
Period	96.60 minutes
Instruments
	Burst Alert Telescope (BAT); UltraViolet Optical Telescope (UVOT); X-Ray Telescope (XRT)
	; Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer Explorer program ← GALEX (Explorer 83) THEMIS (Explorer 85-89) →

Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, previously called the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer, is a NASA three-telescope space observatory for studying gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and monitoring the afterglow in X-ray, and UV/Visible light at the location of a burst.^[5] It was launched on 20 November 2004, aboard a Delta II launch vehicle.^[4] Headed by principal investigator Neil Gehrels until his death in February 2017, the mission was developed in a joint partnership between Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and an international consortium from the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy. The mission is operated by Pennsylvania State University as part of NASA's Medium Explorer program (MIDEX).

The burst detection rate is 100 per year, with a sensitivity ~3 times fainter than the BATSE detector aboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. The Swift mission was launched with a nominal on-orbit lifetime of two years. Swift is a NASA MIDEX (medium-class Explorer) mission. It was the third to be launched, following IMAGE and WMAP.^[5]

While originally designed for the study of gamma-ray bursts, Swift now functions as a general-purpose multi-wavelength observatory, particularly for the rapid followup and characterization of astrophysical transients of all types. As of 2020, Swift received 5.5 Target of Opportunity observing proposals per day, and observes ~70 targets per day, on average.^[6]

Swift was put into safe mode in March 2024 due to gyroscope noise.^[7]

^ "NASA Swift Mission Extended for 4 More Years". Omitron. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
^ "Swift Facts and FAQ". Sonoma State University. 28 March 2008. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
^ "Swift Explorer" (PDF). NASA. 1 November 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference Trajectory was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b "Display: SWIFT (Explorer 84) 2004-047A". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "Swift Mission Operations Center". PSU. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory". swift.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 22 March 2024.

[4_more_years-1] "NASA Swift Mission Extended for 4 More Years". Omitron. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.

[swift-faq-2] "Swift Facts and FAQ". Sonoma State University. 28 March 2008. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2015.

[launchkit2004-3] "Swift Explorer" (PDF). NASA. 1 November 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[Trajectory-4] Cite error: The named reference Trajectory was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Display-5] "Display: SWIFT (Explorer 84) 2004-047A". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[6] "Swift Mission Operations Center". PSU. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[7] "The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory". swift.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 22 March 2024.

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Spacecraft properties
Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory
Names	Explorer-84 MIDEX-3 Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer

Mission type	Gamma-ray astronomy
Operator	NASA / Pennsylvania State University
COSPAR ID	2004-047A
SATCAT no.	28485
Website	swift.gsfc.nasa.gov
Mission duration	2 years (planned)^[1] 19 years, 6 months, 12 days (in progress)


Spacecraft	Explorer LXXXIV
Spacecraft type	Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer
Bus	LEOStar-3
Manufacturer	Spectrum Astro
Launch mass	1,470 kg (3,240 lb)
Dry mass	613 kg (1,351 lb)
Payload mass	843 kg (1,858 lb)
Dimensions	5.6 × 5.4 m (18 × 18 ft)^[2]
Power	1040 watts


Start of mission
Launch date	20 November 2004, 17:16:01 UTC
Rocket	Delta II 7320-10C (Delta 309)
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-17A
Contractor	Boeing Defense, Space & Security^[3]
Entered service	1 February 2005


Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit^[4]
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	585 km (364 mi)
Apogee altitude	604 km (375 mi)
Inclination	20.60°
Period	96.60 minutes

Instruments
Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) UltraViolet Optical Telescope (UVOT) X-Ray Telescope (XRT)
Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer Explorer program ← GALEX (Explorer 83) THEMIS (Explorer 85-89) →