High Energy Astrophysical Observatory Program

NASA’s High Energy Astrophysical Observatory Program comprised three large observatories launched between 1977 and 1979 to explore the high-energy sky. HEAO-1 surveyed the X-ray sky, HEAO-2 (the Einstein Observatory) pioneered imaging X-ray astronomy and guest-observer access, and HEAO-3 surveyed hard X-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic rays through the program’s operations ending in May 1981.

Identity

Aliases: HEAO ProgramHigh Energy Astronomy ObservatoriesHEAOHigh Energy Astrophysical Observatory
Domains: spaceflight
Name: High Energy Astrophysical Observatory Program
Status: completed
Types: scienceresearchoperationsdevelopment

Details

Description: NASA’s High Energy Astrophysical Observatory Program comprised three large observatories launched between 1977 and 1979 to explore the high-energy sky. HEAO-1 surveyed the X-ray sky, HEAO-2 (the Einstein Observatory) pioneered imaging X-ray astronomy and guest-observer access, and HEAO-3 surveyed hard X-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic rays through the program’s operations ending in May 1981.
End Date: 1981-05
Leads
Participants: -
Start Date: 1977-08-12

Assets & Meta

Creation Time: August 13, 2026 at 15:00:14 UTC
Updated Time: August 13, 2026 at 15:00:14 UTC

Other

Official Urls: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/observatories/history/missions/heao.htmlhttps://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heao1/heao1.htmlhttps://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/einstein/heao2_about.htmlhttps://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19810033976