Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) was a NASA satellite that observed the time variation of astronomical X-ray sources, named after physicist Bruno Rossi. The RXTE had three instruments — an All Sky Monitor, the High-Energy X-ray Timing Experiment (HEXTE) and the Proportional Counter Array. The RXTE observed X-rays from black holes, neutron stars, X-ray pulsars and X-ray bursts. It was funded as part of the Explorer program, and was also called Explorer 69.
Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellite | |||||||
| Names | Explorer 69 RXTE XTE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission type | Astronomy | ||||||
| Operator | NASA | ||||||
| COSPAR ID | 1995-074A | ||||||
| SATCAT no. | 23757 | ||||||
| Website | RXTE home page | ||||||
| Mission duration | 16 years (achieved) | ||||||
| Spacecraft properties | |||||||
| Spacecraft | Explorer LXVIX | ||||||
| Spacecraft type | Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer | ||||||
| Bus | X-ray Timing Explorer | ||||||
| Manufacturer | Goddard Space Flight Center | ||||||
| Launch mass | 3,200 kg (7,100 lb) | ||||||
| Power | 800 watts | ||||||
| Start of mission | |||||||
| Launch date | 30 December 1995, 13:48:00 UTC | ||||||
| Rocket | Delta II 7920-10 (Delta 230) | ||||||
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, SLC-17A | ||||||
| Contractor | McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company | ||||||
| Entered service | 30 December 1995 | ||||||
| End of mission | |||||||
| Deactivated | 12 January 2012 | ||||||
| Decay date | 30 April 2018 | ||||||
| Orbital parameters | |||||||
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit | ||||||
| Regime | Low Earth orbit | ||||||
| Perigee altitude | 409 km (254 mi) | ||||||
| Apogee altitude | 409 km (254 mi) | ||||||
| Inclination | 28.50° | ||||||
| Period | 92.60 minutes | ||||||
| Instruments | |||||||
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RXTE had a mass of 3,200 kg (7,100 lb) and was launched from Cape Canaveral on 30 December 1995, at 13:48:00 UTC, on a Delta II launch vehicle. Its International Designator is 1995-074A.
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