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