Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO)
The Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory was launched on April 5, 1991. The second of NASA's great observatories, CGRO has four instruments that cover an unprecedented six orders of magnitude in energy, from 30 keV to 30 GeV. Over this energy range CGRO has an improved sensitivity over previous missions of a full order of magnitude. It operated for almost 9 years and the mission ended on June 4 2000. Unlikely most satellites, CGRO was too large to burn up entirely in the atmosphere during re-entry. To ensure safety on the Earth's surface, NASA redirected the spacecraft into Earth's atmosphere with a controlled re-entry.
Mission CharacteristicsLifetime : 5 April 1991 - 4 June 2000
Energy Range : 30 keV - 30 GeV
Special Features : First Great Gamma-Ray observatory
Archive : Catalogs, Other products soon available