List of space telescopes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope

This is a list of astronomical space telescopes. The list is divided up into the major frequency ranges: gamma ray, x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave and radio. Telescopes that work in multiple frequency bands are in all of the appropriate sections. Space telescopes that collect particles, such as cosmic ray nuclei and/or electrons, as well as instruments that aim to detect gravitational waves, are also listed. Missions that look solely within our solar system, including the Earth, other planets within our system and our Sun, are excluded; see List of Solar System probes for these.

When the telescope is in Earth orbit, then two values for its height are given. These are respectively the periapsis and apoapsis of the initial orbit, i.e. the minimum and maximum distances between the telescope and the centre of Earth's mass, in kilometers. Analogous values are also given when the telescope is in solar orbit, but in these cases the unit used is the astronomical unit (AU).

Contents

[edit] Gamma ray

Further information: Gamma ray astronomy

Gamma ray telescopes collect and measure individual, high energy gamma rays from astrophysical sources. These are absorbed by the atmosphere, requiring that observations are done by high-altitude balloons or space missions. Gamma rays can be generated by supernovae, neutron stars, pulsars and black holes. Gamma ray bursts, with extremely high energies, have also been detected but have yet to be identified.[1]

An illustration of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory

The logo for the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope

Granat

Artist's impression of INTEGRAL
Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
3rd High Energy Astrophysics Observatory (HEAO 3) NASA 1979-09-2020 September 1979 1981-05-2929 May 1981 eo00486.4Earth orbit (486.4–504.9 km) [2][3][4]
Astrorivelatore Gamma ad Immagini LEggero (AGILE) ISA 2007-04-2323 April 2007 — eo00524Earth orbit (524–553 km) [5][6]
Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) NASA 1991-04-055 April 1991 2000-06-044 June 2000 eo00362Earth orbit (362–457 km) [7][8][9]
Cos-B ESA 1975-08-099 August 1975 1982-04-2525 April 1982 eo00339Earth orbit (339.6–99,876 km) [10][11][12]
Gamma RSA 1990-07-011 July 1990 1992-00-001992 eo00375Earth orbit (375 km) [13]
Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) NASA 2008-05-1414 May 2008 — eo00550Earth orbit (550 km) expected [14]
Granat CNRS & IKI 1989-12-011 December 1989 1999-05-2525 May 1999 eo02000Earth orbit (2,000–200,000 km) [15][16][17]
High Energy Transient Explorer 2 (HETE 2) NASA 2000-10-099 October 2000 — eo00590Earth orbit (590–650 km) [18][19][20]
International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) ESA 2002-10-1717 October 2002 — eo00639Earth orbit (639–153,000 km) [21][22]
Low Energy Gamma Ray Imager (LEGRI) INTA 1997-05-1919 May 1997 — eo00600Earth orbit (600 km) [23][24]
Second Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-B) NASA 1972-11-1515 November 1972 1973-06-088 June 1973 eo00443Earth orbit (443–632 km) [25][26]
Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer NASA 2004-11-2020 November 2004 — eo00585Earth orbit (585–604 km) [27][28]

[edit] X-ray

Further information: X-ray astronomy

X-ray telescopes measure high-energy photons called X-rays. These can not travel a long distance through the atmosphere, meaning that they can only be observed high in the atmosphere or in space. Several types of astrophysical objects emit X-rays, from galaxy clusters, through black holes in active galactic nuclei to galactic objects such as supernova remnants, stars, and binary stars containing a white dwarf (cataclysmic variable stars), neutron star or black hole (X-ray binaries). Some solar system bodies emit X-rays, the most notable being the Moon, although most of the X-ray brightness of the Moon arises from reflected solar X-rays. A combination of many unresolved X-ray sources is thought to produce the observed X-ray background.

The Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics

An artist's impression of BeppoSAX

An illustration of the Chandra X-ray Observatory

The Einstein Observatory
Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
1st High Energy Astrophysics Observatory (HEAO 1) NASA 1977-08-1212 August 1977 1979-01-099 January 1979 eo00445Earth orbit (445 km) [29][30][31]
3rd High Energy Astrophysics Observatory (HEAO 3) NASA 1979-09-2020 September 1979 1981-05-2929 May 1981 eo00486.4Earth orbit (486.4–504.9 km) [2][3][4]
A Broadband Imaging X-ray All-sky Survey (ABRIXAS) DLR 1999-04-2828 April 1999 1999-07-011 July 1999 eo00549Earth orbit (549–598 km) [32][33][34]
Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA) NASA & ISAS 1993-02-2020 February 1993 2001-03-22 March 2001 eo00523.6Earth orbit (523.6–615.3 km) [35][36]
AGILE ISA 2007-04-2323 April 2007 — eo00524Earth orbit (524–553 km) [5][6]
Ariel V SRC & NASA 1974-10-1515 October 1974 1980-03-1414 March 1980 eo00520Earth orbit (520 km) [37][38]
Array of Low Energy X-ray Imaging Sensors (Alexis) LANL 1993-03-2525 April 1993 2005-00-002005 eo00749Earth orbit (749–844 km) [39][40][41]
Aryabhata ISRO 1975-04-1919 April 1975 1975-04-2323 April 1975 eo00563Earth orbit (563–619 km) [42]
Astron IKI 1983-03-2323 March 1983 1989-06-00June 1989 eo02000Earth orbit (2,000—200,000 km) [43][44][45]
Astronomical Netherlands Satellite (ANS) SRON 1974-08-3030 August 1974 1976-06-00June 1976 eo00266Earth orbit (266–1176 km) [46][47]
Astrosat ISRO 2009-04-00April 2009 — eo00650Earth orbit (650 km) [48]
BeppoSAX ASI 1996-04-3030 April 1996 2002-04-3030 April 2002 eo00575Earth orbit (575–594 km) [49][50][51]
Broad Band X-ray Telescope / Astro 1 NASA 1990-12-22 December 1990 1990-12-1111 December 1990 eo00500Earth orbit (500 km) [52][53]
Chandra X-ray Observatory NASA 1999-06-2323 July 1999 — eo09942Earth orbit (9,942–140,000 km) [54][55]
Constellation-X Observatory NASA TBA — — [56]
Cos-B ESA 1975-08-099 August 1975 1982-04-2525 April 1982 eo00339.6Earth orbit (339.6–99,876 km) [10][11][12]
Cosmic Radiation Satellite (CORSA) ISAS 1976-02-066 February 1976 1976-02-066 February 1976 Failed launch [57][58]
Dark Universe Observatory NASA TBA — eo00600Earth orbit (600 km) [59][60]
Einstein Observatory NASA 1978-11-1313 November 1978 1981-04-2626 April 1981 eo00465Earth orbit (465–476 km) [61][62]
EXOSAT ESA 1983-05-2626 May 1983 1986-04-088 April 1986 eo00347Earth orbit (347–191,709 km) [63][64][65]
Ginga (Astro-C) ISAS 1987-02-055 February 1987 1991-11-011 November 1991 eo00517Earth orbit (517–708 km) [66][67][68]
Granat CNRS & IKI 1989-12-011 December 1989 1999-05-2525 May 1999 eo02000Earth orbit (2,000–200,000 km) [15][16][17]
Hakucho ISAS 1979-02-2121 February 1979 1985-04-1616 April 1985 eo00421Earth orbit (421–433 km) [69][70][71]
High Energy Transient Explorer 2 (HETE 2) NASA 2000-10-099 October 2000 — eo00590Earth orbit (590–650 km) [18][19][20]
International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) ESA 2002-10-1717 October 2002 — eo00639Earth orbit (639–153,000 km) [21][22]
Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) NASA 2010-08-00August 2010 — eo00525Earth orbit (525 km) [72]
ROSAT NASA & DLR 1990-06-011 June 1990 1999-02-1212 February 1999 eo00580Earth orbit (580 km) [73][74][75]
Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer NASA 1995-12-3030 December 1995 — eo00409Earth orbit (409 km) [76][77]
Spectrum-X-Gamma IKI & NASA 2010-00-002010 — — [78]
Suzaku (ASTRO-E2) JAXA & NASA 2005-06-1010 July 2005 — eo00550Earth orbit (550 km) [79][80]
Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer NASA 2004-11-2020 November 2004 — eo00585Earth orbit (585–604 km) [27][28]
Tenma ISAS 1983-02-2020 February 1983 1989-01-1919 January 1989 eo00489Earth orbit (489–503 km) [81][82][83]
Third Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-C) NASA 1975-05-077 May 1975 1979-04-00April 1979 eo00509Earth orbit (509–516 km) [84][85][86]
Uhuru NASA 1970-12-1212 December 1970 1973-03-00March 1973 eo00531Earth orbit (531–572 km) [87][88][89]
X-Ray Evolving Universe Spectroscopy Mission (XEUS) ESA 2018-00-002018 — — [90]
XMM-Newton ESA 1999-12-1010 December 1999 — eo07365Earth orbit (7,365–114,000 km) [91][92]

[edit] Ultraviolet

Further information: Ultraviolet astronomy

Ultraviolet telescopes make observations at ultraviolet wavelengths, i.e. between approximately 100 and 3200 Å. Light at these wavelengths is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, so observations at these wavelengths must be performed from the upper atmosphere or from space.[93] Objects emitting ultraviolet radiation include the Sun, other stars and galaxies.[94]

The Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer

An artist's impression of GALEX

The Copernicus Observatory in a clean room

The International Ultraviolet Explorer
Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
Astro 2 NASA 1993-04-022 March 1993 1993-03-1818 March 1993 eo00349Earth orbit (349–363 km) [95][96]
Astron IKI 1983-03-2323 March 1983 1989-06-00June 1989 eo02000Earth orbit (2,000–200,000 km) [43][44][45]
Astronomical Netherlands Satellite (ANS) SRON 1974-08-3030 August 1974 1976-06-00June 1976 eo00266Earth orbit (266–1176 km) [46][47]
Astrosat ISRO 2009-04-00April 2009 — eo00650Earth orbit (650 km) [48]
Broad Band X-ray Telescope / Astro 1 NASA 1990-12-022 December 1990 1990-12-1111 December 1990 eo00500Earth orbit (500 km) [52][53]
Copernicus Observatory NASA 1972-08-2121 August 1972 1980-00-001980 eo00713Earth orbit (713–724 km) [97]
Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) NASA 2003-01-1313 January 2003 — eo00578Earth orbit (578–594 km) [98][99]
Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) NASA 1992-06-077 June 1992 2002-01-3030 January 2002 eo00515Earth orbit (515–527 km) [100][101]
Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) NASA & CNES & CSA 1999-06-2424 June 1999 2007-07-1212 July 2007 eo00752Earth orbit (752–767 km) [102][103]
Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) NASA 2003-04-2828 April 2003 — eo00691Earth orbit (691–697 km) [104][105]
Hubble Space Telescope NASA 1990-04-2424 April 1990 — eo00586.47Earth orbit (586.47–610.44 km) [106]
International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) ESA & NASA & SERC 1978-01-2626 January 1978 1996-09-3030 September 1996 eo32050Earth orbit (32,050–52,254 km) [107][108]
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Satellite 4 (Kaistsat 4) KARI 2003-09-2727 September 2003 — eo00675Earth orbit (675–695 km) [109][110]
OAO-2 NASA 1968-12-077 December 1968 1973-01-00January 1973 eo00749Earth orbit (749–758 km) [111][97]
Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer NASA 2004-11-2020 November 2004 — eo00585Earth orbit (585–604 km) [27][28]
Tel Aviv University Ultraviolet Explorer (TAUVEX) Israeli Space Agency 2008-00-002008 — — [112]

[edit] Visible

Further information: Visible-light astronomy

The oldest form of astronomy, optical or visible-light astronomy extends from approximately 4000 Å to 7000 Å (400 nm to 700 nm).[113]. Positioning an optical telescope in space means that the telescope does not see any atmospheric effects (see astronomical seeing), providing higher resolution images. Optical telescopes are used to look at stars, galaxies, planetary nebulae and protoplanetary disks, amongst many other things.[114]

Artist's impression of Hipparcos

The Hubble Space Telescope

Concept drawing of the Kepler Mission

Artist's impression of the Space Interferometry Mission
Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
COROT CNES & ESA 2006-12-2727 December 2006 — eo00872Earth orbit (872–884 km) [115][116]
Dark Energy Space Telescope NASA & DOE TBA — — [117]
Gaia mission ESA 2011-00-002011 — lagrangeLagrangian 2 point [118]
Hipparcos ESA 1989-08-088 August 1989 1993-04-00March 1993 eo00223Earth orbit (223–35,632 km) [119][120][121]
Hubble Space Telescope NASA 1990-04-2424 April 1990 — eo00586.47Earth orbit (586.47–610.44 km) [106]
Kepler Mission NASA 2009-02-00February 2009 — — [122][123]
MOST CSA 2003-06-3030 June 2003 — eo00819Earth orbit (819–832 km) [124][125]
Space Interferometry Mission NASA 2009 — — [126]
Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer NASA 2004-11-2020 November 2004 — eo00585Earth orbit (585–604 km) [27][28]
Terrestrial Planet Finder NASA TBA — — [127]

[edit] Infrared

Further information: Infrared astronomy

Infrared light is of lower energy than visible light, hence is emitted by cooler objects. As such, the following can be viewed in the infrared: cool stars (including brown dwarves), nebulae, and redshifted galaxies.[128]

Artist's impression of the Herschel Space Observatory

Artist's impression of IRAS

Artist's impression of the James Webb Space Telescope

The Spitzer Space Telescope
Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
AKARI JAXA 2006-02-21February 21, 2006 — eo00586.47Earth orbit (586.47–610.44 km) [129][130]
Darwin Mission ESA 2015-00-002015 — lagrangeLagrangian 2 point [117]
Herschel Space Observatory ESA & NASA 2008-10-3131 October 2008 — lagrangeLagrangian 2 point [131][132][133]
IRAS NASA 1983-01-2525 January 1983 1983-11-2121 November 1983 eo00889Earth orbit (889–903 km) [134][135]
Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) ESA 1995-11-1717 November 1995 1998-05-1616 May 1998 eo01000Earth orbit (1000–70500 km) [136][136][137]
Infrared Telescope in Space ISAS & NASDA 1995-03-1818 March 1995 1995-03-2525 April 1995 eo00486Earth orbit (486 km) [138][139]
James Webb Space Telescope NASA 2013-00-002013 — — [140]
Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) USN 1996-04-2424 April 1996 1997-02-2626 February 1997 eo00900Earth orbit (900 km) [141]
Spitzer Space Telescope NASA 2003-08-2525 August 2003 — so0.98Solar orbit (0.98–1.02 AU) [142][143]
Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) NASA 1998-12-066 December 1998 — eo00638Earth orbit (638–651 km) [144][145]
Terrestrial Planet Finder NASA TBA — — [127]
Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) NASA 1999-03-055 March 1999 — — [146]
Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) NASA 2009 — eo00500Earth orbit (500 km) [147][148]

[edit] Microwave

Further information: Radio astronomy

At microwave frequencies, photons are plentiful, but they have very low energy so lots of them need to be collected. At these frequencies, the Cosmic Microwave Background can be measured, as well as point sources and the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, as well as synchrotron radiation and Bremsstrahlung from our own galaxy.

Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)

Artist's impression of Planck satellite

Artist's impression of WMAP
Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) NASA 1989-11-1818 November 1989 1993-12-2323 December 1993 eo00900Earth orbit (900 km) [149][150]
Odin Swedish Space Corporation 2001-02-2020 February 2001 — eo00622Earth orbit (622 km) [151][152]
Planck satellite ESA 2008-10-3131 October 2008 — lagrangeLagrangian 2 point [153][154][132]

[edit] Radio

Further information: Radio astronomy and Very Long Baseline Interferometry

As the atmosphere is transparent for radio waves, radio telescopes in space are of most use for Very Long Baseline Interferometry; doing simultaneous observations of a source with both a satellite and a ground-based telescope and by correlating their signals to simulate a radio telescope the size of the separation between the two telescopes. Observations can be of supernova remnants, masers, gravitational lenses, starburst galaxies, and many other things.

Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy (HALCA, or VSOP)
Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy (HALCA, or VSOP) ISAS 1997-02-1212 February 1997 2005-11-3030 November 2005 eo00560Earth orbit (560–21,400 km) [155][156][157]
RadioAstron IKI 2008-10-00October 2008 — eo10000Earth orbit (10,000–390,000 km) [158][159]
VSOP-2 JAXA 2012-00-002012 — — [117]

[edit] Particle detection

Satellites that do particle detection look for cosmic rays and electrons. These can be emitted by the sun (Solar Energetic Particles), our galaxy (Galactic cosmic rays) and extragalactic sources (Extragalactic cosmic rays). There are also Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays from active galactic nuclei.

Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
3rd High Energy Astrophysics Observatory (HEAO 3) NASA 1979-09-2020 September 1979 1981-05-2929 May 1981 eo0046.4Earth orbit (486.4–504.9 km) [2][3][3]
Astromag Free-Flyer NASA 2005-01-011 January 2005 — eo00500Earth orbit (500 km) [160][161]
Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA) ISA, INFN, RSA, DLR & SNSB 2006-05-1515 May 2006 — eo00350Earth orbit (350–610 km) [162][163]

[edit] Gravitational waves

A proposed new type of telescope is one that detects gravitational waves; ripples in space-time generated by colliding neutron stars and black holes.

Artist's impression of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
Name Space Agency Launch Date Terminated Location Ref(s)
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna NASA 2018 — so1Solar orbit (approx. 1 AU; trailing Earth) [164]

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