SWAS, the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite, is a groundbreaking mission studying the chemical composition of interstellar galactic clouds to study star formation processes. SWAS is one of NASA's Small Explorer Missions and is a collaboration between a number of institutions in the US and Germany. UMass scientists played a lead role in the radiometer design and development and are currently major contributors in the analysis of SWAS data.
The SWAS Spacecraft Mated with the Pegasus XL Rocket Shortly before Launch
Launched December 5, 1998, SWAS is in a 460x655 km orbit.
The instrumentation carried aboard SWAS is specifically designed to gather data on features of star formation which, to date, have remained invisible from beneath the obscuring effects of the Earth's atmosphere. SWAS will observe the spectral lines of water, isotopic water, molecular oxygen, isotopic carbon monoxide, and atomic carbon, all of which lie at submillimeter wavelengths (500 to 600 microns). Water is believed to be one of the most abundant molecules in space, yet little is known about its abundance. During its three-year mission SWAS will observe hundreds of regions of ongoing star formation within our galaxy.
The SWAS instrument is a 60-cm submillimeter wavelength telescope that incorporates dual heterodyne radiometers and an acousto-optical spectrometer. The SWAS spacecraft is a three-axis stabilized, stellar-pointed observatory capable of pointing the science instrument at typically 3-5 targets per orbit. On December 5th, 1998, an air launched Pegasus XL rocket carried SWAS into a 650 km orbit. SWAS is now providing answers to questions concerning the chemical composition of molecular clouds, thermal balance in star forming regions, and the processes important to the formation of future stellar systems.
The instrumentation carried aboard SWAS is specifically designed to gather data on features of star formation which, to date, have remained invisible from beneath the obscuring effects of the Earth's atmosphere. SWAS will observe the spectral lines of water, isotopic water, molecular oxygen, isotopic carbon monoxide, and atomic carbon, all of which lie at submillimeter wavelengths (500 to 600 microns). Water is believed to be one of the most abundant molecules in space, yet little is known about its abundance. During its three-year mission SWAS will observe hundreds of regions of ongoing star formation within our galaxy.
The SWAS instrument is a 60-cm submillimeter wavelength telescope that incorporates dual heterodyne radiometers and an acousto-optical spectrometer. The SWAS spacecraft is a three-axis stabilized, stellar-pointed observatory capable of pointing the science instrument at typically 3-5 targets per orbit. On December 5th, 1998, an air launched Pegasus XL rocket carried SWAS into a 650 km orbit. SWAS is now providing answers to questions concerning the chemical composition of molecular clouds, thermal balance in star forming regions, and the processes important to the formation of future stellar systems.