Astronomy - the next space race.

Planned, scheduled, and operational astronomy satellites are described. The IUE and the Japanese Hakucho satellites, mapping UV light and X ray bursts, respectively, are presently operative, as are the IR Astronomy satellite launched in January, 1983 and the Astro-B, the second Japanese X ray satellite. Astro-C will be a joint Japan-Britain project launched in 1987. The ESA Exosat is ready for launch, and the optical satellite Hipparcos is being constructed. Giotto will be launched in time to rendezvous with Halley's comet. The Space Telescope is a joint NASA-ESA project, as is the remaining spacecraft for the International Solar Polar mission. The IR Space Observatory (ISO) will be sensitive to wavelengths up to 120 microns and will be used to chart interstellar dust clouds and quasars. Other planned spacecraft are the gamma ray observatory, the Cosmic Background Explorer, the Cosmic X ray Gamma Ray telescope, UVSAT, and Starlab, with the latter four intended for launch in the 1990s.