Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Made:
1985
Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT) Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT), University of Birmingham, 1985

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.

Details

Category:
Space Technology
Object Number:
2005-33
type:
telescope
credit:
University of Birmingham

Parts

Spacelab 2 X-ray Telescope

Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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.

Measurements:
overall: 320 mm x 635 mm x 635 mm,
Object Number:
2005-33/12
type:
components
Components, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Components, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Box conatining components including a canister, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Measurements:
overall: 375 mm x 917 mm x 615 mm,
Object Number:
2005-33/13
type:
components
Green wheeled base, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Green wheeled base, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Green wheeled base, possibly a trolley with Reg. DGW "No. 841257", from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Measurements:
overall: 300 mm x 525 mm x 400 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and paint
Object Number:
2005-33/14
type:
trolley
Component with internal electronics, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Component with internal electronics, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

White-coloured component with internal electronics, in orange crate, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Measurements:
overall: 365 mm x 556 mm x 340 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and paint
Object Number:
2005-33/15
type:
electronics
Components, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Components, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Blue archival box of components, mostly electronics, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Measurements:
overall: 317 mm x 610 mm x 610 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and paint
Object Number:
2005-33/16
type:
electronics and components
Components, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Components, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

black archival box of components, mostly 2 dimensional, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Measurements:
overall: 165 mm x 1160 mm x 855 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and paint
Object Number:
2005-33/17
type:
components
Black archival box, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Black archival box, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Black archival box of plastic bags most likely used to package the solar blankets, from Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope (XRT)

Measurements:
overall: 165 mm x 1125 mm x 1015 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and paint
Object Number:
2005-33/18
type:
box - container