[Previous] | [Session 11] | [Next]

[11.09] Thermal Performance of the Cryogenic Telescope Assembly on the Spitzer Space Telescope

P. Finley (Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.)

NASA's fourth Great Observatory, the Spitzer Space Telescope, has begun to reveal previously unseen features in our universe. The Cryogenic Telescope Assembly is Spitzer's instrument payload and includes the telescope and cryogenic system, which houses the science instruments. The cryogenic system employs a superfluid helium cryostat coupled with a passive radiator system that cools the telescope to less than 5.5 K and provides a 1.2 K cold sink to the science instruments. The cryogenic system was designed with an operational lifetime of 5 years to meet a requirement of 2.5 years. To date, the thermal/cryogenic system is meeting expectations.

[Previous] | [Session 11] | [Next]

Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #2
© YEAR. The American Astronomical Soceity.