a selected list of x-ray satellites
|
satellite
|
operated by
|
operational dates
|
instruments
|
operating spectral region
|
special features
|
|
EXOSAT
|
European Space Agency X-ray Observatory
|
May 83 - Apr 86
|
proportional counters;
transmission gratings & multichannel array
18 arcsec resolution
|
0.05-50 keV
|
low-energy high-resolution spectra
|
|
ROSAT
|
Roentgen Satellite;
Germany/UK/US
|
Jun 90 - Feb 99
|
wide field camera;
proportional counter;
high-resolution imager
(0.2 arcsec)
|
0.1 - 2.5 keV (x-ray)
62-206 eV (euv)
|
all-sky survey in soft x-ray
|
|
ASCA
|
Advanced Satellite for Cosmology & Astrophysics, Japan
|
Feb 93 - Mar 01
|
proportional counters;
CCD spectrometers
(30 arcsec resolution)
|
0.4 - 10 keV
|
combined imaging capability and spectral resolution
|
|
RXTE
|
Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
|
Dec 95 -
|
proportional counter array
(1 msec resolution)
|
2 - 250 keV
|
msecond timing, all-sky monitoring
|
|
BeppoSAX
|
Italian Space Agency
|
Apr 96 - Apr 02
|
wide-field camera;
spectrometers;
proportional counters
|
0.1 - 300 keV
|
broad-band energy capability, medium energy resolution
|
|
Chandra
|
NASA
|
Jul 99 -
|
high-resolution CCD camera
(0.5 arcsec)
CCD spectrometers
|
0.1-10 keV
|
high-resolution, large collecting area; high-energy sensistivity
|
|
XMM
|
X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission,
European Space Agency
|
Dec 99 -
|
CCD imaging cameras
(6 arcsecond resolution)
CCD spectrometers
|
0.1-15 keV
|
large collecting area, combined with optical monitor
|