Artist's impression of the ROSAT satellite in space
Artist's impression of the ROSAT satellite as it orbits the Earth. ROSAT was used to conduct research into X-ray sources.
Sample representation based on three consecutive orbits of ROSAT
A sample representation based on three consecutive orbits of ROSAT around the Earth. Each of these orbits has a duration of about 90 minutes. The path of one orbit to another gradually changes above Earth's surface. This image shows ROSAT on 12 April 2011.
DLR (CC-BY 3.0).
ROSAT images the entire sky in X-rays
This image, obtained with ROSAT during its all-sky survey in 1990 and 1991, shows the entire sky in X-rays. In this image, our Milky Way lies at the level of the equator, where supernovae remnants (for example in the Vela constellation on the right half of the image) and X-ray binaries can be seen. The various colours indicate the different energy strengths of the X-ray radiation.
ROSAT was launched from Cape Canaveral on 1 June 1990 on board a Delta II rocket
This X-ray satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on 1 June 1990 on board a Delta II rocket property of NASA. Originally, the plan was to put Rosat in Earth orbit on board a US Space Shuttle. Following the explosion of Challenger in 1986 (when ROSAT was under construction), it was decided to launch the X-ray satellite into orbit on board a rocket.