The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) of NASA is now on its final expedition to its launch pad on central Pacific Ocean-based Kwajalein Atoll.
The mission will investigate massive black holes, sun, and other exotic objects in space. It is expected to launch by June 13.
The observatory is mounted on an Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus XL rocket. After the mission passes its Flight Readiness Review on June 1, the rocket will be fastened to the basal part of an aircraft, the L-1011 Stargazer on June 2. Between June 5 and 6, the Stargazer will take wings from central California-based Vandenberg Air Force Base to Kwajalein.
At the time of launch, the Stargazer will fly at around 11:30 a.m. EDT; the rocket will be dropped, followed by ignition of NuSTAR to a low orbit around Earth.
NuSTAR will be the unique space telescope to generate focused images of cosmic X-rays with maximum energies. The telescope provides tenfold increase in resolution, similar energy range and over 100x more sensitivity than the earlier ones.
The mission will operate with other space telescopes such as NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory that observes lower-energy X-rays and also captures black holes, dead stars and jets proximal to the speed of light.
NuSTAR will observe far and near as well as big and small black holes. The observatory will help analyze the forging of planetary components by the exploding stars.
NuSTAR can focus high-energy light with nested shells of mirrors made from ultra-thin glass with thinner reflective coating. It has over 133 nested shells in each of two optic units.
The telescope includes advanced detectors and an extensive 33-foot mast. The mast links the detectors to the nested mirrors, creating long distance necessary for focusing the X-rays. This mast is wrapped up into a canister to fit the elevated Pegasus launch vehicle. It will spread out seven days following the launch. The science operations will commence after 23 days.
Source: http://www.nasa.gov/