The GLAST (Fermi) Spacecraft in Orbit

  • Released Friday, September 14th, 2007
  • Updated Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 at 12:23AM
  • ID: 20119

GLAST will be launched into a circular orbit around the Earth at an altitude of about 560 km (350 miles). At that altitude, the observatory will circle Earth every 90 minutes. In sky-survey mode, GLAST will be able to view the entire sky in just two orbits, or about 3 hours. Because gamma rays in the GLAST's energy band are unable to penetrate the Earth's atmostphere, it is essential that GLAST perform its observations from space.

This beauty shot begins with the earth in full view and pans to reveal the spacecraft in orbit.

This beauty shot begins with the earth in full view, then pans to reveal the spacecraft and the gamma ray sky it will observe.

This beauty shot begins with the earth in full view, then pans to reveal the spacecraft and the gamma ray sky it will observe. This version is upresed to 1920x1080 and plays back at half-speed.

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/GLAST

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Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

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