Universe ID: 12934

RXTE Photos

Released on May 1, 2018

Photos of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellite in 1995, prior to its Dec. 30 launch. RXTE provided unprecedented views into the extreme environments around white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes until it was decomissioned on Jan. 4, 2012.

After being uncrated in Hangar AO at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, in summer 1995, NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer is ready to begin two months of checkout, tests and preparations for launch.

Credit: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

Payload processing technicians in Hangar AO at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, begin checkout and prelaunch tests on NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer in summer 1995. The spacecraft rests on a payload support structure after its arrival from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

Credit: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer undergoes processing in Hangar AO at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, in summer 1995. The spacecraft is shown being installed onto the Delta launch vehicle’s payload attach fitting in preparation for transport to Pad A, Complex 17, and mating with the second stage of its Delta II rocket.

Credit: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

Credits

Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Producer
Francis Reddy (Syneren Technologies): Lead Science Writer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12934

Mission:
RXTE

This item is part of this series:
Astrophysics Stills

Keywords:
SVS >> Spacecraft
SVS >> X-ray
SVS >> Cleanroom
SVS >> Kennedy Space Center
SVS >> RXTE
NASA Science >> Universe