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| | | | | | | Hitch-hikers help to monitor space weather
6 November 2003
| The task of Integral, ESA's International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory, is to gather the most energetic radiation that comes from space. The spacecraft was launched October 2002 and will help to solve some of the biggest mysteries in astronomy.
Gamma rays are even more powerful than the X-rays used in medical examinations. Fortunately, the Earth's atmosphere acts as a shield to protect us from this dangerous cosmic radiation. However this means that gamma rays from space can only be detected by satellites. Integral is currently the most sensitive gamma-ray observatory ever launched. It detects radiation from the most violent events far away and from processes that made the Universe habitable.
Credits: ESA. Illustration by D. Ducros | |  |  | |
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| | More about... SOHO overviewCluster overviewGaia overviewUlysses overviewHerschel overviewSolar OrbiterPlanck overviewRosetta overviewIntegral overviewRelated articles Space weatherWhat are solar flares?Related links ESA's Space Weather pagesSREM science page
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