The Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) is one of NASA's Great Observatories. It is a space-based telescope designed to capture images in the X-Ray range of light.
Specific Phenomena
The Chandra X-Ray Observatory's specific capabilities make it especially useful in studying:
Chandra X-ray Observatory Timeline
1976: The Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) project is proposed to NASA
1992: Initial spacecraft design is downscaled to reduce increasing costs
1998: Project is renamed Chandra X-ray Observatory in honor of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
July 23, 1999: Chandra X-ray Observatory is deployed in space by shuttle Columbia flight STS-93
2007: The spacecraft celebrates its eight year of operation
References
Fast Facts
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Launched into orbit
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Length
17 feet
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Diameter
9.25 feet
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Weight
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Fact:
Carried into space by the Space Shuttle Columbia
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Fact:
Captures X-Ray images of distant objects
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Fact:
25 times more powerful than the next-strongest X-Ray telescopeNASA: NASA's Great Observatories
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Fact:
X-Rays are absorbed by the atmosphere, and cannot be observed from Earth's surfaceShuttle Press Kit: STS-93 Payload - Chandra X-Ray Observatory
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Fact:
Its operating orbit takes it 200 times higher than the Hubble Space Telescope
