ESA's Integral Gamma-Ray Telescope Concludes Historic 22-Year Mission

The groundbreaking observatory reshaped our understanding of gamma-ray bursts, gravitational waves, and extreme cosmic phenomena.

Integral, launched in 2002, was the first observatory to simultaneously capture gamma rays, X-rays, and visible light from space.
The mission provided critical insights into gamma-ray bursts, tracing their origins to supernovae and neutron star collisions.
Integral contributed to breakthroughs in gravitational wave research and identified sources of ultrahigh-energy neutrinos.
Recent discoveries include the most powerful gamma-ray flash ever observed and evidence of thermonuclear explosions driving jets in neutron stars.
Although scientific operations have ended, Integral's data archive will support future research and inspire new space missions.