NASA's new space telescope to launch aboard Delta II on June 3

Washington, May 23 : NASA would launch its Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, aboard Delta II, on June 3, 2008, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

The June 3 launch date is dependent on space shuttle Discovery's May 31 liftoff, and will move if the shuttle launch is delayed.

NASA's new gamma-ray observatory will open a wide window on the universe through the study of Gamma rays, the highest-energy form of light.

GLAST data will enable scientists to answer persistent questions across a broad range of topics, including supermassive black-hole systems, pulsars, the origin of cosmic rays, and searches for signals of new physics.

NASA will hold a pre-launch news conference at NASA's Kennedy Space Center news center on June 1, which would be carried live on NASA Television.

A prelaunch webcast will take place on June 2 at NASA Direct, where GLAST's launch director will explain how the countdown will unfold on launch day, discuss how the spacecraft and Delta II launch vehicle were prepared for liftoff.

In the webcast, viewers will also get to hear GLAST's project scientist explaining the mission's goals.

ANI