INTEGRAL - The International Gamma-ray Astrophysics Laboratory - INTEGRAL
INTEGRAL Latest News
INTEGRAL community knowledge transfer workshop
20 May 2025 In recognition of INTEGRAL’s importance in the Interplanetary Network and as a detection device for high-energy transients, ESA offers the scientific community an opportunity to access basic data in the coming years and, in the spirit of open science, offers a knowledge transfer workshop led by mission experts, scheduled for half a day on 03 July 2025, 13:00 - 18:00 MESZ, at Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany.
Specificallly, this ESA-organized workshop aims a) to inform the scientific community about the type of INTEGRAL data that ESA can still provide, highlighting the limitations and changes since the end of science operation, and b) to facilitate the community coordination around the INTEGRAL SPI-ACS burst event information service.
First public release of INTEGRAL Science Legacy Archive (ISLA)
27 March 2025 The INTEGRAL Science Legacy Archive (ISLA) provides access to all consolidated data as well as high level products like time series, spectra and mosaics per observation for the high energy sources detected over the course of the mission's 22+ years science operations. In addition, a Community portal allows scientists to promote and make accessible their own science products. If you have any questions, please contact the Helpdesk under integral.helpdesk@cosmos.esa.int
28 February 2025 The European Space Agency’s gamma-ray telescope ended its observations on 28 February 2025. During its 22+ years in space, INTEGRAL has reshaped our view of the most dramatic events in the Universe. The high-energy observatory played a pivotal role in revealing the nature of the cosmic explosions known as gamma-ray bursts and in uncovering the origin of gravitational wave events. Recently, it delivered unique insights into how thermonuclear blasts drive jets in neutron stars and captured the giant flare from an extragalactic magnetar. Read the full ESA web story here.
INTEGRAL's last two months of science observations in January and February 2025
According to SPC decision ESA/SPC(2024)28, some science observations are still possible during the early post-operations phase from 1 Jan 2025 until 28 Feb 2025 to support the LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA Gravitational Wave Campaign during this 2-month extension. Observations during this time shall be independent of the AO21 programme (no carry over). High-interest Target of Opportunity (TOO) observations are possible during this time. All science data taken during this period will be made public immediately and available from the ISDC and later also from ISLA.
The rough plan for this time period is:
- Participate in multi-mission calibration campaign of 3C 273 in the week of 6 Jan 2025
- Take a deep observation of the bright neutrino source NGC 1068 during January, alternating with Galactic plane observations
- Observe Her X-1 for 200ks during the main-on of the 35 days cycle (predicted for 24 Jan to 2 Feb 2025)
Assessment of quality of data taken of NGC 1068, depending on outcome: If more data needed, continue until end of February; If data of sufficient quality, starting 15 Feb 2025 to observe the Crab using PICsIT counting mode, alternating with Galactic Centre
After 28 Feb 2025, no further science data will be taken and ToO requests will be disabled; also the SPI/ACS data streaming will be stopped.
Some technology tests on the OMC (decontamination heating) and IBIS dectors (ISGRI calibration - increase of voltage) are being performed towards the end of science observations:
- the last revolution as planned with ISOC in the loop is #2887 (starting 01.03.2025) in which an IBIS technology test will be performed
- from revolution #2888 onwards (starting 04.03.2025): The mission planning for spacecraft control only is taken over by MOC.
Opportunities of a Legacy Mission: A Reflection on Integral’s Journey
17 December 2024 Richard Southworth, a seasoned veteran of spacecraft operations and former INTEGRAL Spacecraft Operations Manager, delivered a heartfelt Lunchtime dialogue titled Opportunities of a Legacy Mission.
17 October 2024 INTEGRAL was launched into space on 17 October 2002. That means ESA's most sensitive gamma-ray observatory to date is 22 years old and still operating today! Happy Launch Anniversary Day!
11 September 2024 The ESA Science Programme Committee (SPC) has approved some limited operations of instruments during the first two months of the post-operations phase that starts on 1 January 2025. Science data taken during this period will be immediately public. The TOO-alert tool remains open for highly important TOOs with priority for gravitational wave event follow-ups until 28 February 2025. Science observations will ultimately end on 1 March 2025.
Update to standard PICsIT time resolution
26 January 2024 As of revolution 2662 (2023-07-12) the standard PICsIT time resolution of the spectral timing mode (S8) has been increased to 3.9ms (previously 7.8ms). This increase will improve the science return for bright and short events such as magnetar flares (like the recent one reported by Mereghetti et al., 2023, arXiv: 2312.14645) and GRBs or compact objects. The data will continue to be binned into 8 bins, with the following energy ranges (all in keV): 208–260, 260-312, 312-364, 364-468, 468-572, 572-780, 780,1196 and 1196–2600.
To accommodate this change within the telemetry limits, the PICsIT histogram mode (S7.0/7.1) has been deactivated. The change is transparent to the observers and no change in data reduction procedure is foreseen.
INTEGRAL AO-21 general programme approved
18 January 2024 The INTEGRAL AO-21 General Programme, as recommended by the Time Allocation Committee (TAC) and approved by ESA's Director of Science (Prof. Carole Mundell), has been released and the observers have been informed. The programme can be found here.
Blast from the past: gamma-ray burst strikes Earth from distant exploding star
15 November 2023 An enormous burst of gamma rays, detected by ESA's Integral space telescope, has struck Earth. The blast caused a significant disturbance in our planet's ionosphere. Such disturbances are usually associated with energetic particle events on the Sun but this one was the result of an exploding star almost two billion light-years away. Analysing the effects of the blast could provide information about the mass extinctions in Earth's history. Read more about it here: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Integral/Blast_from_the_past_gamma-ray_burst_strikes_Earth_from_distant_exploding_star
Happy 21st birthday, INTEGRAL!
17 October 2023 On 17 October 2002 INTEGRAL was launched into space! That means ESA's most sensitive gamma-ray observatory to date is 21 years old and still operating today! Happy Launch Anniversary Day!
Furthermore, the final call for proposals for INTEGRAL concluded successfully on September 29th. Details can be found in the dedicated newsletter.
INTEGRAL's final call for Guest Observing time, AO-21, is open
4 September 2023 Today, the ESA Director of Science (Prof. Carole Mundell) released the 21st Announcement of Opportunity (AO-21) for observing proposals with INTEGRAL.
This announcement solicits proposals for observations to be carried out from January 2024. Proposers from all over the world are welcome to participate. All proposals will be subject to an independent peer review by the INTEGRAL Time Allocation Committee (TAC). The deadline for proposal submission is Friday 29 September 2023, 14:00 CEST.
This is the last AO for INTEGRAL and therefore the last chance to benefit from this special observatory and its unique capabilities. New INTEGRAL proposers are welcome, and some information especially targeting newcomers can be found in this 7-page brochure INTEGRAL's final AO: Capabilities and Science Highlights.
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