International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory Launch Date:
October 17, 2002 Mission Project Home Page -
http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/integral/integral.html
Program(s):Physics of the Cosmos INTEGRAL is providing new
insight into the most violent and exotic objects of the
Universe, such as black holes, neutron stars, active galactic
nuclei and supernovae. INTEGRAL is also helping us to understand
processes such as the formation of new chemical elements and
mysterious gamma-ray bursts, the most energetic phenomena in the
Universe. This will be possible thanks to INTEGRAL's combination
of fine spectroscopy and imaging of gamma-ray emissions in the
energy range of 15 keV to 10 MeV. INTEGRAL also has an optical
camera and X-ray detector, energy range 3 to 35 keV, for
simultaneous observations across the EM spectrum. Gamma-rays are
even more powerful than the X-rays used in medical examinations.
Fortunately, the Earth's atmosphere acts as a shield to protect
us from this dangerous cosmic radiation. However, this m