INTEGRAL News archive for 2024

 

 

INTEGRAL's last two months of science observations in January and February 2025

20 December 2024 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

The precise observing plan will be accessible as usual via the link: https://integral.esac.esa.int/isocweb/schedule.html 

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.

Continue reading here.

Happy 22nd birthday, INTEGRAL!

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!

We will celebrate this event next week with the INTEGRAL Workshop 2024.

INTEGRAL ramping down in 2025

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.