NASA redefines Spitzer Space Telescope mission  Posted by Aharon
Etengoff  Chicago (IL) - NASA has confirmed that the Spitzer
Space Telescope will end its primary mission after running out
of liquid helium.  During the past five years, liquid helium has
kept three infrared instruments chilled to -456 degrees
Fahrenheit (-271 Celsius), or less than 3 degrees above absolute
zero.  Spitzer's new "warm" temperature is expected to hover at
-404 degrees Fahrenheit (-242 Celsius). However, the temperature
increase will effectively disable two of Spitzer's instruments -
a (longer) wavelength multiband imaging photometer and infrared
spectrograph. As such, the telescope will operate with two
channels of one infrared array camera functioning at full
capacity.  This will enable Spitzer to detect glows from a
variety of celestial objects, including asteroids, dusty stars,
planet-forming disks, gas-giant planets and distant galaxies. In
addition, the spacecraft will help scientists study potentially
hazardous asteroids an