Artist's impression of Integral

ESA's Integral (International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) satellite, is due for launch by a Proton launcher from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on 17 October.

The most sensitive gamma-ray observatory ever launched, Integral is a truly international mission involving all ESA member states plus the USA and Russia. It carries four instruments from teams led by scientists in Italy, France, Germany, Denmark and Spain to gather and analyse gamma-rays, X-rays and visible light from celestial objects.