NASA decommissions Spitzer Space Telescope after 16 years of operation

NASA has decommissioned Spitzer Telescope, one of its greatest observatories which has studied universe by detecting cosmic infrared riation for more than 16 years, US ncy said in a statement. Spitzer, which was launched in 2003, studied some of most distant galaxies ever detected with light from some of cosmic bodies travelling for billions of years to reach telescope, NASA said.

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Spitzer Telescope 

"Spitzer taught us how important infrared light is to understanding our universe, both in our own cosmic neighbourhood, and as far away as most distant galaxies," said Paul Hertz, director of astrophysics at NASA Hequarters.

" vances we make across many areas in astrophysics in future will be because of Spitzer's extraordinary legacy," Hertz ded.

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By detecting infrared light, with wavelengths ranging from about 700 nametres too small to see with naked eye - to about a millimetre, Spitzer could help astromers unveil presence of cosmic entities which are too cold to emit much visible light, including planets outside our solar system, and cold matter found in between stars, US ncy ted. Spitzer, NASA astromers said, also found a previously undetected ring around Saturn, composed of sparse dust particles that visible-light observatories cant see.

"It's quite amazing when you lay out everything that Spitzer has done in its lifetime, from detecting asteroids in our solar system larger than a stretch limousine to learning about some of most distant galaxies we kw of," said Michael Werner, Spitzer's project scientist.

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According to NASA, original mission planners didn't expect Spitzer to operate for 16-plus years.

"It wasn't in plan to have Spitzer operating so far away from Earth, so team has h to apt year after year to keep craft operating," said Joseph Hunt, Spitzer project manr.

"But I think overcoming that challenge has given people a great sense of pride in mission. This mission stays with you," Hunt said.

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During 2016 NASA Senior Review process, ncy h said, y me a decision to close out Spitzer mission, which was initially planned for 2018 in anticipation of launch of James Webb Telescope (JWST), which will also conduct infrared astromy. However, as launch of JWST was postponed, Spitzer mission was granted its fifth and final extension, which ended on Thursday.

(Im Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech)