Proceedings of the 5th Compton Symposium
Publication date: 17 September 1999
Authors: Winkler, C. & Hermsen, W.
Journal: AIP Conference Proceedings
Volume: 510
Issue: 1
Page: pp.676-683
Year: 2000
Copyright: AIP
The International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), to be launched in 2001, is dedicated to the fine spectroscopy (DE: 2 keV FWHM @ 1.3 MeV) and fine imaging (angular resolution: 12' FWHM) of celestial gamma-ray sources in the energy range 15 keV to 10 MeV with concurrent source monitoring in the X-ray (3-35 keV) and optical (V, 550 nm) range. The mission is conceived as an observatory led by ESA with contributions from Russia and NASA. The INTEGRAL observatory will provide to the science community at large an unprecedented combination of imaging and spectroscopy over a wide range of gamma-ray energies. This paper summarises the key scientific goals of the mission, the current development status of the payload and spacecraft and it will give an overview of the science ground segment including the science data center, science operations and key elements of the observing program.
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