Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Spacelab 2 X-ray Telescope

Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

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This telescope, designed and built at Birmingham University, used a gold-plated 'mask' to create images of X-rays from distant objects in space (conventional lenses can't focus X-rays).

It formed part of the Spacelab 2 mission carried into space in July about Space Shuttle Challenger. From its position above the atmosphere, the telescope returned many days' worth of new data including the first high-energy X-ray of our own galaxy's centre.

Measurements:: overall: 8200 mm x 1000 mm x 2200 mm,

Object Number:: 2005-33/1

type:: telescope - astronomical

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT) detector

Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT) detector

Measurements:: overall: 340 mm 710 mm, 40 kg

Object Number:: 2005-33/2

type:: telescope

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Circular disc on which is mounted electronics for Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT) detector

Measurements:: overall: 60 mm, 700 mm,

Object Number:: 2005-33/3

type:: disc

Knob removed for safe keeping from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT) detector

Measurements:: overall: 17 mm 35 mm,

Object Number:: 2005-33/4

type:: knob

Knob removed for safe keeping from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT) detector

Measurements:: overall: 17 mm 35 mm,

Object Number:: 2005-33/5

type:: knob

Knob removed for safe keeping from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT) detector

Measurements:: overall: 17 mm 35 mm,

Object Number:: 2005-33/6

type:: knob

part of Solar blanket from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT) detector

Measurements:: overall: 600 mm x 400 mm x 50 mm,

Object Number:: 2005-33/7

type:: solar blanket

part of Solar blanket from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT) detector

Measurements:: overall: 670 mm x 440 mm x 40 mm,

Object Number:: 2005-33/8

type:: solar blanket

Three securing brackets for Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope

Three securing brackets for Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope used to attach hard parts in the Space Shuttle payload bay.

Object Number:: 2005-33/9

type:: bracket

Control knob, with writing and image inscription on face, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Measurements:: overall: 20 mm, 35 mm,

Materials:: metal (unknown) and paint

Object Number:: 2005-33/10

type:: control knob

Control knob, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Measurements:: overall: 20 mm, 35 mm,

Materials:: metal (unknown) and paint

Object Number:: 2005-33/11

type:: control knob

5 components in a box from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

2 metal circular components, and 3 pieces of a solar blanket in a box, relating to Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT), University of Birmingham, 1985

More

This telescope was carried into orbit aboard the US Space Shuttle Challenger in 1985. It was positioned in the open payload doors of Challenger and surveyed our galaxy for ten days. It returned the first high-energy X-ray image of the galactic centre. The telescope was devised and assembled by a University of Birmingham team led by Professor Peter Willmore. It used an innovative pseudo-random coded mask technique for imaging the individual X-ray sources across the galaxy.