They also provide a tremendous opportunity because once you prove you can fulfill an obligation like that you're probably in a position to be called on again for something similar. Swift might do even more than focus on gamma-ray bursts. Because of the unpredictable aspect of the powerful bursts, Swift might move beyond its stated goals. We have a clear-cut mission, but we should also be able to look at other things. That might mean other scientists who discover important things could call us up and ask us to look at them with Swift.
Every day means a step closer to that reality.
Already the Mission Operations Center, offices, and research areas for the project, have begun to take shape. Walls were reconfigured, furniture arrived, and the finishing touches were installed, including work benches in the laboratory and materials necessary to keep the fabrication area clean. No portion of the project has been lacking support. With space on campus at a premium, administrators helped the researchers determine their options for off-campus facilities. At the same time, they understood the importance of the research and its impact in terms of educational opportunities, potential scientific discoveries, and as a point of continued growth for Penn State's space-science contributions.