Chandra X-ray Observatory
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory is an active Great Observatory studying the high-energy universe with exceptionally sharp X-ray imaging and spectroscopy. Columbia launched it on STS-93; IUS-27 and Chandra's own propulsion system placed it into a long-period highly elliptical Earth orbit, where SAO conducts flight and science operations for NASA.
Follow this mission
Schedule, status, and mission updates. Time-based alerts will start when a time is available.
Identity
- Aliases
- ChandraAdvanced X-ray Astrophysics FacilityAXAFCXOChandra Mission
- Name
- Chandra X-ray Observatory
- Status
- active
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory is an active Great Observatory studying the high-energy universe with exceptionally sharp X-ray imaging and spectroscopy. Columbia launched it on STS-93; IUS-27 and Chandra's own propulsion system placed it into a long-period highly elliptical Earth orbit, where SAO conducts flight and science operations for NASA.
- Destination
- Highly elliptical Earth orbit with an approximately 64-hour period (initially about 10,000 × 140,000 km perigee/apogee; orbit evolves over time) for high-resolution X-ray observations of the universe
- Launch Site
- Outcome
- Active and highly successful. Chandra exceeded its planned five-year lifetime many times over and continues returning high-resolution X-ray observations that support research on black holes, supernova remnants, galaxy clusters, stellar evolution, and other energetic phenomena.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 1999-07-23
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/chandra/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 17, 2026 at 01:15:48 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 22, 2026 at 13:30:18 UTC
- Image
- Download
Other
- Affiliations
- Search Name
- Chandra X-ray Observatory Chandra Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility AXAF CXO Chandra Mission
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles