HETE-2 Satellite Launched To Study Gamma-Ray Bursts

Dr.Copernicus writes: "A new satellite named HETE-2 was just launched (missile-style from a plane) to study Gamma-Ray Bursts. These mysterious objects are the most powerful explosions known in the universe, yet we don't know exactly what they are. They might result from neutron stars colliding, or stars collapsing, or they might involve black holes. HETE-2 will allow astronomers to study gamma-ray bursts farther away (and farther back in time) than ever before. The satellite partially replaces CGRO which recently had to be crashed into the ocean so that it wouldn't kill people."

physics slowly being unravelled

[RainMan496]

This article, as well as the one concerning the Higgs particle, is a perfect example of the huge leaps and bounds by which physics has been progressing lately. A gamma ray study conducted from space is critical to the determination of the origin of gamma rays, which will undoubtedly be helpful in discovering the nature of gamma rays, which are released in nearly every reaction on the atomic level as a result of mass defect. It is ironic that we have to look millions of light years away at objects infathomably immmense to understand infinitessimally small objects we concern ourselves with every day.

Pegasus Launcher

[Adrian Harvey]

I thought that the most interesting thing about the article was the info about the launch method (for those who missed the link it's here [orbital.com].) I had not realised that this (logical) idea had actually been capitalised on! I had wondered for a while if a jet powered launch module with wings might be more cost effective (cost + reuseability) than using rockets to throw stuff into space, and here is someone who's simply using old jet aircraft to do the job! They've even been doing it for 10 years, just to make me feel silly for having not noticed it before. Now all we need is for them to be able to take larger cargos, and we can begin to work our way up to putting humans in space at reasonable prices. That might require specially designed launchers, but I suspect that you could still use standard jet engines... The advantage with my not having noticed it for 10 years is that their patents must be expiring soon :-)

Re:physics slowly being unravelled

[stevelinton]

The nature of gamma rays is rather well understood -- they are simply electromagnetic waves of very short wavelength.

The nature of gamma ray bursters is much less well understood. Assuming that they are as far away as we think, and that they are emmitting their enegergy more or less in all directions, not beaming it at us, then they are VERY energetic! Each GRB during its burst is brighter than the whole of a normal galaxy