kaiya and avery. expectations 1990’s- $2.2 billion with new infrared detecting technology and...
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SPITZER SPACE TELESCOPE
Kaiya and Avery
Expectations 1990’s- $2.2 billion With new infrared
detecting technology and research into cryogenic systems and orbits, currently costs 1/3 of original estimate to maintain
Mission estimated to last 2.5-5+ years (until liquid helium/cryogen wears out).
Spitzer Liquid helium depleted in 2009. The two
shortest wavelength cameras still function today (Spitzer Warm Mission).
Launched from Cape Canaveral, FL on Monday, August 25, 2003. 3824 days since launch. 191,617,259 km from Earth.
1990’s: infrared telescopes were around, but it was difficult to observe due to long exposure times and Earth’s Atmosphere.
Expectations
Originally, it was proposed to go up for short duration 30 day flights (with launchings occurring every week).
By 1983, expected to be long duration. One of the first times a satellite was proposed to be far away from Earth and not trailing Earth’s orbit (protects it from heat and reduces amount of necessary coolant).
Results First telescope to capture light from extrasolar
planets (“hot Jupiters”) Gave new insight as to how planets are formed More of a bar structure to the Milky Way Galaxy
than earlier thought. Double helix (80 light year long) nebula.
Spitzer Basics Infrared 13 feet tall 2,000 lbs. Maps weather
patterns Launched August
25, 2003 Lyman Spitzer died
before it launched.
Engineering Has to stay hot and cold CTA Thermal radiation IRS IRAC MIPS Star tracker Orbits behind earth 85 cm mirror diameter Ritchey Chrétlen design