Science Visualized Astronomy

NASA’s Chandra X-ray telescope celebrates 20 years in space

The spacecraft launched in July 1999 and has been searching the sky ever since

Chandra images

LOOKING AROUND NASA released a set of images from the Chandra X-ray Observatory to celebrate its 20th anniversary, showing merging galaxies and a supernova remnant, among others.

CXC/NASA, SAO

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

In July 1999, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory took off aboard the space shuttle Columbia to scan the sky in a wavelength of light invisible to human eyes.