Cassiopeia A: Chandra X-ray

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(Credit: SAO Chandra X-ray Center and NASA)

SUPERNOVA EXPLOSION
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When a massive star explodes, it creates a shell of hot gas that glows brightly in X-rays. These X-rays reveal the dynamics of the explosion. (Animation: CXC / D. Berry & A. Hobart) - View Still Photos

CHANDRA DEPLOYMENT
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The Crew of the STS-93 mission aboard Space Shuttle Columbia deploy the Chandra X-ray Observatory at 7:47am EDT on July 23, 1999. Mission Specialist Cady Coleman & Commander Eileen Collins narrate. (Video: NASA)

IUS, IPS BURNS TO ORBIT
Quick Time Movie (288 k)
At 9 hours and 41 minutes into the mission, the first of two solid rocket motors attached to Chandra's spacecraft module ignite. The rocket burns for two minutes before shutting off and separating from the spacecraft. Three minutes later the second rocket fires. These firings lift the Chandra X-ray Observatory into a highly elliptical orbit.
[Runtime: 0:09]
(Animation: NGST)

SUNSHADE DOOR OPEN
Quick Time Movie (396 k)
This animation depicts the Chandra solar array and contamination cover deployments. The solar panels consist of two, 3-panel, silicon solar arrays (2,350 watts) that charge three nickel-hydrogen backup batteries. They were made by Fokker Space in the Netherlands.
[Runtime: 0:11]
(Animation: NGST)

CHANDRA LIGHT PATH
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X-ray photons entering the telescope are reflected at grazing angles and focused onto an electronic detector to make an image of a cosmic source. (Animation: CXC / D. Berry & A. Hobart) - View Still Photos