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36.292 UH MCENTAFFER/UNIV OF IOWA
Off-plane Grating Rocket for Extended Source Spectroscopy (OGRESS)
- Mission
- Vehicle
- Launch
- Photos
36.292 UH Terrier-Black Brant was launched from White Sands Missile Range, NM on May 2, 2015. The OGRESS instruments provided high spectral resolving power for large diffuse X-ray sources. The science target was the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant which is one of the brightest and largest soft X-ray emitters in the sky. The observation provided global plasma conditions from this object which are typified by interactions between the supernova blast wave and a precursor formed cavity wall. The payload also contains a critical NASA X-ray technology ― off-plane reflection grating arrays. Combined with parallel technology development efforts, this mission will provide a flight proving platform for future X-ray missions. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Randall McEntaffer/University of Iowa.
![Drawing of a Terrier-Black Brant sounding rocket](../images/vehicles/Terrier-Black-Brant-sm.png)
The Black Brant 9 is a two stage sounding rocket with a Terrier first stage and Black Brant second stage. The Black Brant 9 can reach altitudes of about 600 km. Payloads weighing from 400 to 1200 pounds can be flown.
![Google Earth Map showing White Sands Missile Range.](../images/WSMR.jpg)
The OGRESS mission was launched from White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico on May 2, 2015.