INTEGRAL Science Window Data

In addition, there are periods within a given sequence where scheduled observations occur, i.e., engineering windows, yet the instruments still acquire data. The INTEGRAL Science Data Center (ISDC) generalizes all of these data acquisition periods into so-called `Science Windows.' A Science Window (ScW) is a continuous time interval during which all data acquired by the INTEGRAL instruments result from a specific S/C attitude orientation state.

Pointing (fixed orientation), Slew (changing orientation), and Engineering (undefined orientation) windows are all special cases of a Science Window. The key is that the same attitude information may be associated with all acquired data of a given Science Window. Note that it is possible to divide a time interval that qualifies as a Science Window under this definition into several smaller Science Windows using arbitrary criteria.