Explanation:
A forward-facing RocketCam (TM)
mounted inside the
payload fairing of a
Delta II rocket captured
these dramatic video frames on November 20th -- as the
Swift satellite
observatory journeyed to an orbit
600 kilometers above planet Earth.
Some frames were interpolated to correct for
transmission problems.
The sequence shows the fairing separation,
the second stage rotating past the Earth's limb,
and finally the 1500 kilogram satellite itself separating
from the second stage.
Observing at optical, ultraviolet, x-ray and
gamma-ray energies,
Swift is designed to locate the sources
of energetic
gamma-ray bursts and
watch as their
afterglows fade
in the distant Universe.
Still in its checkout phase, the observatory is already
detecting the high energy flashes from
these awe-inspiring cosmic blasts.
