Abstract
Satellite, rocket, and balloon borne instruments have obtained a wealth of high-energy data from SN 1987A. These have added significantly to our understanding of Type II supernovae. Besides the exciting direct detection of just-synthesized radioactivity via γ-ray line observations, the light curves of the lines and the extremely hard continuum which results from them have provided clues to the structure of the newly disrupted star. Mysteries still remain. We do not yet understand how the radioactive matter reached low depths in the envelope at such early times. We have not yet identified the mechanism which produced the softest observed X-ray emission. We do not know how much of other radioactive species were produced. This could help us begin to understand in detail the nuclear burning and mass ejection processes. We have not yet seen the signature of the compact remnant of the collapse. At this point we have great hope that some of these questions will be answered with the state-of-the-art experiments already flying and scheduled for launch soon.
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