This programme in a series of five about Integral, ESA's gamma ray observatory for launch on 17 October 2002, focuses on 2 of Integrals instruments. The imager and spectrometer are 2 specially designed detectors needed to register cosmic gamma rays. The programme explains how these instruments will help in the collection of gamma rays and why this task is such a difficult one.
The programme carries split audio with English commentary and is complemented by a B-roll with clean international sound.

IMAGING THE GAMMA-RAY SKY
00:40
Neutron stars, black holes, gamma-ray bursts, the milky way, super novae: these denominations of stellar objects represent at the same time sophisticated yet fascinating facets of the universe. Most of these pictures are artistic views developed in 3d graphic rooms. They are the result of the transformation of millions of digital data provided by special gamma and x ray detecting instruments in space. Even in orbit, observing gamma rays is a difficult task. Gamma rays may be five million times more energetic than visible light but because of they pass right through matter with hardly any interaction, traditional mirrors and cameras have little chance to reflect and detect them.
01:30
Specially designed detectors are needed to register cosmic gamma rays. ESA's INTEGRAL observatory will have two such detectors on board: an Imager and a Spectrometer, the latter a 10 times more sensitive than previous high spectral resolution instruments.
01:50
The development and a