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SPACE SCOPES
Telescope Door on IRIS Opens
by Staff Writers
Greenbelt, MD (SPX) Jul 19, 2013


In its first major milestone since launch, the IRIS team opened the telescope door on July 17, 2013. The telescope door is the circular white object on the far left of this graphic. Image Credit: NASA Goddard.

Today at 11:14 pm PDT (2:14 pm EDT) the IRIS Lockheed Martin instrument team successfully opened the door on NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, which launched June 27, 2013, aboard a Pegasus XL rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

A 60-day check out period began at launch. The first 30 days, which ends July 27, consists of tests and spacecraft system checks. The team will use the remaining 30 days for initial observing runs to fine tune instrument observations. If all is nominal, the team plans to begin normal science mode by August 26.

All data will be available to scientists and the public as soon as the mission begins science operations. The team is looking forward to receiving high-resolution images and spectra soon after first light.

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Related Links
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Space Telescope News and Technology at Skynightly.com






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Construction begins on 'best astronomical observatory in Asia'
Lhasa, Tibet (UPI) Jul 12, 2013
An observatory being built in Tibet is expected to be the best astronomical observatory in Asia, the president of the International Astronomical Union says. IAU President Norio Kaifu said the observatory, located in Tibet's Ngari prefecture, is sited in an ideal place for astronomical monitoring due to its high altitude, transparent atmosphere and mild weather, China's state-run Xinhua ... read more


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