BAIKONUR. July 16 (Interfax-Kazakhstan) - The launch of the Integral spacecraft with a Proton rocket from Baikonur has been tentatively scheduled for October, an official in the Federal Space Center told Interfax on Tuesday.
Integral will be injected into a high elliptical orbit by Russian Aviation and Space Agency enterprises.
A European Space Agency (ESA) delegation visited Baikonur to see the progress of Integral project for themselves, the source said.
The delegation found that the preparation for the launch was proceeding on schedule and signed a certificate showing that ground systems are prepared for the launch, the source said. The delegation also tested the international communication channel. Russian enterprises will test the launching vehicle and the booster shortly. The ESA will certify that Integral is prepared for launching. The spacecraft is expected to be delivered to Baikonur at the end of August.
Numerous Western European countries, Russia and NASA have been working on the astrophysical Integral craft since 1989. It will be used to study gamma rays in black holes, gamma-ray flares and explosions of stars in the galaxy. Integral will be the most sensitive gamma-ray laboratory.
Russian organizations including the Khrunichev Center, Energia and the General Engineering Design Board will adapt the launching vehicle, the booster and the streamer to the mission and the ESA will cover expenses.