Gamma radiation is characterized by higher level of energy and a smaller long wave, than X-rays. Such waves are absorbed by the terrestrial atmosphere therefore since 1972 the telescopes working in this range were launched into Earth orbit more than once. In total there were 12 such satellites, but the most part from them already stopped work.
Work on creation of the orbital gamma telescope of new generation was conducted by the American National administration on aeronautics and a research of space (NASA) since 2005. The first prototype which the balloon was delivered in the top layers of the terrestrial atmosphere was the same year tested. Works were interrupted because of world crisis and the financing reduction which followed it, but nevertheless to summer of this year the satellite worth about 170 million dollars is prepared for start. Generally three American companies - Alliant Techsystems (ATK), Goleta California and Orbital Sciences Corporation participated in its creation. All works on the orbital gamma telescope were conducted within the program of NASA for creation of the small research SMEX-11 satellites.
Own name of the latest satellite for astrophysical researches - NuSTAR. Creators decipher it as "The massif of nuclear spectroscopic telescopes" - NUclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray. As well as follows from the name, on the satellite it is installed not one, but the whole line of telescopes which are paired. They are carried from each other on 10 meters, but, certainly, in a working look such design cannot be taken into an orbit. Therefore the satellite is supplied with the mechanisms deploying the telescope, and, perhaps, even the whole observatory after going into orbit. In the gamma range radiate such astrophysical objects as supernew and neutron stars, pulsars, black holes. At different times astronomers fixed also splashes in gamma radiation of the unknown nature. For researches of all this NuSTAR will also be used.
The last from the known terms of start - on June 15 this year. Earlier the start was already postponed because of the found failures in work of the software of the satellite. The gamma telescope has to be put to orbit by the carrier rocket Pegasus XL from the spaceport on the Pacific island of Kvayleyn near the Marshall Islands.