2000 SPACE SCIENCE VIDEOTAPES |
| |
Tape Title | Record ID | Date Produced | TRT: |
Synopsis |
| HETE-2 - HAS EYES FOR GAMMA-RAY BURSTS | G00-062 | 08/20/00 | 00:06:52 | Every day powerful explosions illuminate the sky and outshine all other gamma ray sources including the Sun. Called gamma ray bursts or GRBs, they are the greatest mystery of astronomy and scientists still don't know what causes them. GRBs were discovered by accident in the 1960's and have been the target of intense research and speculation. NASA will launch the High Energy Transient Explorer-2 (HETE-2) with the latest technology. HETE-2 will be able to detect GRBs and distribute their astronomical coordinates to interested ground-based observers within seconds.
|
TAPE CONTENTS: |
| ITEM (1): HETE-2 Animation - HETE-2 will be launched from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean and once in orbit, will keep an eye open and search the Universe for powerful, mysterious cosmic explosions calls gamma ray bursts (GRBs). HETE's technology will detect the GRBs and then immediately distribute their astronomical coordinates to interested ground-based observers making it possible to view and collect data on the
brief phenomenon. planet. Cluster II is an international collaboration between the European Space Agency and NASA.
|
| ITEM (2): Gamma-Ray Burst In The Sky Animation - Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) occur several times a day without warning and release more energy than any event in the Universe.
|
| ITEM (3): Gamma-Ray Burst 990123 - On February 10, 1999, one of the most powerful cosmic explosions ever recorded bathed the Earth in gamma rays. The GRB was so intense that its visible light could have been seen in the night sky through common binoculars. This was also the first time scientists witnessed visible light being emitted at the same time as a GRB. The Hubble Space Telescope's image of the GRB's optical counterpart showed a relic fireball embedded in a faint, irregular galaxy.
|
| ITEM (4): Gamma-Ray Burst Explosion - Another theory states that these burst are from a huge star explosion, called a hypernova, which is 1,000 times more powerful than the already potent supernova.
|
| ITEM (5): More Gamma-Ray Burst Theories - Some scientists believe neutron stars or black holes could be a source for the mysterious gamma ray bursts (GRBs). Collisions between these objects could generate a powerful blast of gamma-rays.
|
| ITEM (6): Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory Satellite Animation - The ComptonGamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) thrilled scientists as it detected on average one gamma ray burst per day. CGRO was intentionally de-orbited and crashed into the Pacific Ocean on June 4,
2000.
|
| ITEM (7): Pegasus Launch - HETE-2 is mated to a Pegasus launcher, which will send it into space. The flight will take place on the Kwajalein Atoll located in the Pacific Ocean. This particular launch was for the SeaStar satellite, which occurred in August 1998.
|
| ITEM (8): Kwajalein AtollA) A graphic showing the location of the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
B) B-Roll of the Kwajalein Island.
|
Space Science Gallery