NASA | GLASTcast | Episode 1: What is GLAST?

NASA's GLAST mission is an astrophysics and particle physics partnership, developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, along with important contributions from academic institutions and partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and the U.S. The Universe is home to numerous exotic and beautiful phenomena, some of which can generate inconceivable amounts of energy. GLAST will open a new window on this high-energy world. With GLAST, astronomers will have a superior tool to study how black holes, notorious for pulling matter in, can accelerate jets of gas outward at fantastic speeds. Physicists will be able to search for signals of new fundamental processes that are inaccessible in ground-based accelerators and observatories. GLAST's spectacular high-energy gamma-ray "eyeglasses" will reveal hidden wonders, opening our minds to new possibilities and discoveries, expanding our understanding of the Universe and our place in it. Interviews with (in order of appearance): Steve Ritz - GLAST Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Peter Michaelson - Large Area Telescope (LAT) Principal Investigator, Stanford University Diego Torres -- Large Area Telescope (LAT) Scientist, University of Barcelona Neil Gehrels - GLAST Deputy Project Scientist, NASA Goddard David Thompson - GLAST Deputy Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Luke Drury -- Professor of Astronomy, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies Valerie Connaughton - GLAST Burst Monitor (GBM) Team, NASA Marshall/University of Alabama Martin Pohl -- GLAST Interdisciplinary Scientist, Iowa State University Per Carlson -- Professor of Elementary Particle Physics, Manne Siegbahn Laboratory Charles "Chip" Meegan -- GLAST Burst Monitor (GBM) Principal Investigator, NASA Marshall Alan Marscher -- Professor of Astronomy, Boston University Julie McEnery -- GLAST Deputy Project Scientist, NASA Goddard