Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager
The Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager was a NASA Small Explorer observatory launched under its original name, High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager. Its rotating-modulation imaging spectrometer measured solar-flare X-rays and gamma rays to determine where energetic particles are accelerated and how flare energy is released, while also observing terrestrial gamma-ray flashes.
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Identity
- Aliases
- RHESSIHigh Energy Solar Spectroscopic ImagerHESSIExplorer 812002-004A
- Name
- Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager
- Slug
- reuven-ramaty-high-energy-solar-spectroscopic-imager
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- The Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager was a NASA Small Explorer observatory launched under its original name, High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager. Its rotating-modulation imaging spectrometer measured solar-flare X-rays and gamma rays to determine where energetic particles are accelerated and how flare energy is released, while also observing terrestrial gamma-ray flashes.
- End Date
- 2018-08-16
- Launch Site
- Outcome
- RHESSI operated for more than sixteen years and recorded over 100,000 X-ray events across a complete solar cycle. It produced the first high-energy X-ray and gamma-ray images of solar flares, constrained particle acceleration and flare energetics, and improved understanding of terrestrial gamma-ray flashes. NASA decommissioned the spacecraft after communications difficulties with its aging receiver; it reentered over the Sahara on April 19, 2023.
- Program
- Small Explorer Program
- Start Date
- 2002-02-05
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/rhessi
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 18, 2026 at 16:31:38 UTC
- Updated Time
- July 18, 2026 at 16:31:38 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles