The gamma-ray busrt exploration satellite Swift was successfully launched.

The gamma-ray busrt exploration satellite Swift was successfully launched into orbit on 12:16 20/11/2004 EST (02:16 21/11/2004 JST) from Cape Canaveral.
The NASA lead mission with international collaboration is designed to unveal the mistery of the most powerful explosions the universe has seen since the big bang.
As one of the key associate institution,Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of JAXA is leading a Japanese team together with Saitama University and the University of Tokyo,contributing to the development of Swift's principal detector BAT, the Burst Alert Telescope.
Full operation of Swift is scheduled to start aound the next spring, bringing us new
insights on the origin of the gamma-ray bursts.

November 22, 2004