NASA WISE Telescope Starts Taking Pics 43
coondoggie writes "NASA said its Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft successfully popped the cover off its infrared telescope and began 'celestial treasure hunt' mission of sending back what will be millions of images of space. The WISE lens cap served as a safety system keeping the ultra-sensitive lens and telescope system safe until the spacecraft positioned itself correctly in orbit. The cap also served as the top to a 'bottle' that chille the instrument and detectors. This cryostat is a Thermos-like tank of solid hydrogen."
Will hopefully find lots of dark asteroids (Score:5, Insightful)
I understand that WISE is particularly well suited for finding asteroids (its an infra-red telescope so can pick up warm objects and its a survey scope). If this telescope finds an asteroid with our name on it with enough time to do something about it, it will make all the money spent on the space program by all the countries of the world seem like spare change.
(I wonder if this is first post. If so, it'll be my first.).
Re:Why... (Score:4, Insightful)
Uuum, first of all: Why would you not be sure that they really need it? Do you think they sent it up there just for fun??
From what I know, 4K is way too hot / above the wanted temperature. Which is closer to 0.5K (dunno the exact temperature, but it’s a quick search).