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Spitzer Space Telescope Turns Out the Lights

posted by janrinok on Thursday January 30 2020, @08:33PM   
from the passing-by dept.

kreuzfeld writes:

Today marks the final mission of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Conceived of as an infrared-optimized "Great Observatory," Spitzer has spend the last 6002 days providing Earthlings with an unprecedented view into other galaxies, our own solar system, and (unexpected to its designers!) planets around other stars. But in its Earth-trailing solar orbit, Spitzer is now over 1.5 astronomical units from the Earth: radio transmissions are increasingly difficult, and (more importantly) Spitzer's operating costs were ultimately deemed to be too high relative to its science output.

Spitzer's infrared capabilities won't be replaced until 2021 (at the earliest) when NASA's James Webb Space Telescope -- an even larger successor to Spitzer and the Hubble -- is anticipated to launch. Bon voyage, Spitzer -- we'll see you again in about 30 years when our orbits meet up again.

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Original Submission

• here's the replacement here's the replacement (Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday January 30 2020, @08:45PM (2 children)

  by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Thursday January 30 2020, @08:45PM (#951411) Journal

  GAO warns of more JWST delays [spacenews.com]

  A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office Jan. 28 concluded it was unlikely that NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will launch on schedule next March, with a delay of several months possible.

  The GAO report [gao.gov], the latest in an annual series on the progress NASA is making on the flagship space observatory, argued that high consumption of schedule reserve in the first half of 2019 means the current March 2021 launch date “may not be feasible” given the work remaining before launch.

  The report noted that the program performed an updated joint confidence level analysis of the mission’s cost in schedule in October. “Because of schedule delays resulting from technical challenges coupled with remaining risks faced by the project, the analysis assessed only a 12 percent confidence level for the project’s ability to meet the March 2021 launch readiness date,” the report stated.

  NASA missions usually set cost and schedule estimates at the 70% confidence level. Using that metric, the launch would likely take place in July 2021, a delay of four months, according to the report.

  Oof.

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• Re:here's the replacement Re:here's the replacement (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Thursday January 30 2020, @11:31PM (1 child)

  by fustakrakich (6150) on Thursday January 30 2020, @11:31PM (#951480) Journal

  We can expect more cutbacks on the good stuff with all the usual excuses from this D.C. crowd. Shame we're letting it happen

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  La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..

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  • Re:here's the replacement (Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Friday January 31 2020, @12:29AM

    by bzipitidoo (4388) on Friday January 31 2020, @12:29AM (#951506) Journal

    This. Continued use of Spitzer rates a B, and only A grades make the cut in science. Meanwhile D and F crap that might make some feel safer (such as, oh, a big beautiful wall), get 10x or more than Spitzer needs.

    Big Bird is a nice guy, but he's got to go!

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