RXTE (Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer) is a NASA X-ray astronomy satellite, launched in December 1995 and also known as Explorer 69, designed to study variability in the energy output of X-ray sources with moderate spectral resolution. It was named for the X-ray astronomy pioneer Bruno Rossi. Changes in X-ray brightness lasting from microseconds to months are monitored across a broad spectral range of 2 to 250 keV.

 

 

launch	Dec 30, 1995
launch vehicle	Delta 7920
launch site	Cape Canaveral
orbit	409 × 409 km × 29°
mass	3,200 kg