upcoming ESA X-ray telescope launch

Robert G Fenske Jr (fenske@rgfpc.electro.swri.edu)
Wed, 24 Nov 1999 14:22:04 -0600 (CST)

	Relevant part of a posting by Ron Baalke is below.  Sounds like
Chandra #2 ...

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European Space Agency
Press Information Note Nr. 19-99
Paris, France				22 November 1999

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ESA's X-ray Multi Mirror mission -- XMM -- is the second Cornerstone in
ESA's Long Term Scientific Programme (*). This new X-ray space telescope

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A high-flying mission

The XMM spacecraft, the largest science satellite ever built in Europe, is
due to be launched in December 1999 by an Ariane-5 from the European
Spaceport in Kourou.

After being released by the launcher, XMM will be placed in a highly
eccentric 48-hour orbit, rising to a distance of 114,000 km from the
Earth, then returning to within 7,000 km of our planet. 

This orbit has been chosen for several reasons. It offers an optimal contact
between ground tracking stations and the satellite; it will allow the
satellite to pass rapidly through the Earth's radiation belts which could
harm its delicate science instruments; and above all it will offer
astronomers the longest possible observation periods.

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Further information on XMM and the ESA Science Programme can be found on
the Worldwide Web at: http://www.sci.esa.int/ .

See in particular (*) : http://sci.esa.int/categories/scienceprograms/ and
click << Horizon 2000 >> on the left-hand bar. 

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