Swift

Swift is a first-of-its-kind multi-wavelength observatory dedicated to the study of gamma-ray burst (GRB) science. Its three instruments will work together to observe GRBs and afterglows in the gamma-ray, X-ray, optical, and ultraviolet wavebands. Swift, part of NASA's medium explorer (MIDEX) program, is being developed by an international collaboration. It was launched into a low-Earth orbit on a Delta 7320 rocket on November 20, 2004. During its first 2 years of mission, Swift has detected nearly 200 bursts, which represent the most comprehensive study of GRB afterglows to date.
The main mission objectives for Swift are to:

• Determine the origin of gamma-ray bursts.
• Classify gamma-ray bursts and search for new types.
• Determine how the blastwave evolves and interacts with the surroundings.
• Use gamma-ray bursts to study the early universe.
• Perform a sensitive survey of the sky in the hard X-ray band.

For more information please see the

NASA Swift pages

pictures taken during the Swift telescope calibration at MPE Panter facility

Satellite
Launch	November 20, 2004
End of Mission	4+ years
Status	in Earth orbit

MPE Participation

calibration of the X-ray telescope, software development, burst advocates.