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SpaceNut

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From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer - wise telescope

Ball Aerospace & Technologies lands telescope contract to build an Earth-orbiting observatory as part of a $208 million mission scheduled for launch in 2008. WISE will operate at mid-infrared wavelengths scanning the skies for failed stars called brown dwarfs, dust disks that spawn planets, and bright galaxies.

The Boulder company also is under contract from NASA to build the optical mirror segments for the next-generation James Webb Space Telescope. JWST will replace Hubble.

So if JWST is Hubble replacement then which one does this one replace?

NASA picks Boulder firm to build orbital observatory
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn....00.html

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer - wise telescope

This particular telescope is geared to a mission that will scan the entire sky in infrared light. Hoping the search will turn up nearby cool stars, planetary construction zones and the brightest galaxies in the universe.

Another article on the topic:
Stellar Night-Goggles
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/telescopes-04zf.html

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer - wise telescope

UCLA professor to lead new NASA mission
Project will use infrared telescope to create detailed map of the cosmos.
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/art … p?id=30349

UCLA scientist Edward Wright will serve as principal investigator of the new NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission. One of the project’s goals is to discover stars that are too cold to be detected with visible light.

The article has said there is still one more hurdle ahead of the NASA project, and that is the final construction of a satellite.

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer - wise telescope

Space lab to build telescope to map universe

More than two decades after scientists last created a comprehensive map of the universe, researchers at Utah's Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) are part of a $208 million NASA mission to repeat the feat with updated technology.

This telescope will have 12 months of orbiting over the north and south poles about 800 miles into space.
The the basic reconnaissance of the universe in mid-infrared wavelengths, providing a vast storehouse of knowledge that will endure for decades will be its main objective.

This catalog of data will also provide NASA's future James Webb Telescope with a comprehensive list of targets.

Sky's the limit for USU project — an orbiting NASA telescope

The overall cost of the project is $208 million, with USU's Space Dynamics Laboratory receiving $40 million over three years to build the instrument.