NASA’s new Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) is about to be launched today, after more than 14 years of development from a UC Santa Cruz team and also several delays.

The telescope is expected gather data and help in numerous researches such as the investigations of the sources of gamma-rays – the black holes and the dark matter. Gamma rays are a form of radiation with an immense charge of power, being millions of times more energetic than visible light.

The designing and building of the telescope demanded the input of a significant number of engineers and physicists. The UCSC team composed of approximately 12 undergraduates, six graduate students and also five postdoctoral physicists was monitored and led by physicist Robert Johnson and adjunct professor of physics Bill Atwood.

The telescope’s two main components are the large area telescope, which uses a UCSC-engineered gamma ray detecting system named the Tracker and a burst monitor.

"It's very exciting but right now I'm extremely nervous, having 14 years of work sitting on the top of a rocket," said Robert Johnson, according to MercuryNews. "I'll be really relieved once it's in orbit."

The telescope is expected to launch at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the time window scheduled from 11:45 am to 1:40 pm EDT, or 3:45pm to 5:40pm GMT today, Wednesday, June 11 on a United Launch Alliance's Delta II Heavy rocket.

The space observatory demanded an investment on about $690 million and the device will offer new possibilities on exploring some of the most violent and dangerous environments in space.