Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer

Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
	Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellite
Names	Explorer 69; RXTE; XTE
Mission type	Astronomy
Operator	NASA
COSPAR ID	1995-074A
SATCAT no.	23757
Website	RXTE home page
Mission duration	16 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Explorer LXVIX
Spacecraft type	Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
Bus	X-ray Timing Explorer
Manufacturer	Goddard Space Flight Center
Launch mass	3,200 kg (7,100 lb)
Power	800 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	30 December 1995, 13:48:00 UTC
Rocket	Delta II 7920-10 (Delta 230)
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-17A
Contractor	McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company
Entered service	30 December 1995
End of mission
Deactivated	12 January 2012
Decay date	30 April 2018
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	409 km (254 mi)
Apogee altitude	409 km (254 mi)
Inclination	28.50°
Period	92.60 minutes
Instruments
ASM	All Sky Monitor (ASM)
HEXTE	High-Energy X-ray Timing Experiment (HEXTE)
PCA	Proportional Counter Array (PCA)
	Explorer program ← Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (Explorer 68) Fast Auroral SnapshoT Explorer (Explorer 70) →

The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) was a NASA satellite that observed the time variation of astronomical X-ray sources, named after physicist Bruno Rossi. The RXTE had three instruments — an All Sky Monitor, the High-Energy X-ray Timing Experiment (HEXTE) and the Proportional Counter Array. The RXTE observed X-rays from black holes, neutron stars, X-ray pulsars and X-ray bursts. It was funded as part of the Explorer program, and was also called Explorer 69.

RXTE had a mass of 3,200 kg (7,100 lb) and was launched from Cape Canaveral on 30 December 1995, at 13:48:00 UTC, on a Delta II launch vehicle. Its International Designator is 1995-074A.^[3]

^ "NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Leaves Scientific "Treasure Trove"". NASA. May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "Trajectory: X-Ray Timing Explorer (1995-074A) Explorer 69". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "Display: X-Ray Timing Explorer (1995-074A) Explorer 69". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[1] "NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Leaves Scientific "Treasure Trove"". NASA. May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[Trajectory-2] "Trajectory: X-Ray Timing Explorer (1995-074A) Explorer 69". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[Display-3] "Display: X-Ray Timing Explorer (1995-074A) Explorer 69". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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