The INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory is a Gamma-ray mission of ESA which was launched on the October 17 20002. The satellite orbits the Earth on a highly eccentric orbit in order to carry out observations while avoiding the radiation belt of the Earth. The mission has been continuously active since 2002, largely exceeding its initial planned time of 2.2 years. For reasons related to the aging of the instruments and the loss of fuel of the satellite, a command has been sent to the satellite in 2015 to allow a safe re-entry of the satellite in February 2029. Owing to its success, the mission has been extended several times, for now until 2018.

The main targets of Integral include black holes, Active Galactic Nuclei and Gamm-ray Bursts.