Mission type | Astronomy |
---|---|
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1978-103A |
SATCAT no. | 11101 |
Website | Einstein Observatory at NASA.gov |
Mission duration | 4 years |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | TRW |
Dry mass | 3,130 kilograms (6,900 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 13 November 1978, 05:24 | UTC
Rocket | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1AR |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-36B |
End of mission | |
Last contact | 17 April 1981 |
Decay date | 26 May 1982 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 465 kilometres (289 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 476 kilometres (296 mi) |
Inclination | 23.5° |
Period | 94.0 minutes |
Epoch | 13 November 1978 05:24:00 UTC |
Einstein Observatory (HEAO-2) was the first fully imaging X-ray telescope put into space and the second of NASA's three High Energy Astrophysical Observatories. Named HEAO B before launch, the observatory's name was changed to honor Albert Einstein upon its successfully attaining orbit.[1]