Posted on 06/19/2012 3:55:29 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: What's left after a star explodes? To help find out, NASA launched the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) satellite into Earth orbit last week. NuSTAR's ability to focus hard X-rays emitted from the nuclei of atoms will be used, among other things, to inspect the surroundings of supernova remnants so as to better understand why these supernovas occurred, what types of objects resulted, and what mechanisms make their surroundings glow so hot. NuSTAR will also give humanity unprecedented looks at the hot corona of our Sun, hot gasses in clusters of galaxies, and the supermassive black hole in the center of our Galaxy. Pictured above is an artist's illustration depicting how NuSTAR works. X-rays similar to those used in your dentist's office enter the telescope on the right and skip off two sets of parallel mirrors that focus them onto the detectors on the left. A long but low-weight mast separates the two, and the whole thing is powered by solar panels on the upper left. Part of the excitement involving NuSTAR is not only what things it is expected to see, but by looking at the universe in a new way, what things that are completely unknown that might be discovered. NuSTAR has a planned two year lifetime.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Fiona Harrison et al., Caltech, NASA]
Only a TWO-Year Lifespan?
The Humble Hubble did a LOT better than that!
Wonderful testimony to the outcome of liberty!
I suspect it has to do with a) the lifetime of the sensors required for this particular mission, and b) budget cutting. Long life spaceflight-rated components are extremely expensive. That's just a guess, though.
Leave it to NASA to be sitting around looking at hot Coronas. Haven’t they ever heard of refrigerators? Hot beer.....yeck.......
Its not the components. Radiation hardened electronic last for a long time. The limiting factor is probably fuel for the thrusters. Once you’ve run out of fuel, you can’t control where the thing is pointing. Hubble lasted so long because we refueled it every time NASA refurbished it in orbit.
It wouldn’t surprise me if there is a measurable torque from sunlight that will cause the telescope to slowly start spinning. The forces are tiny, but over a long time it can just mess up your day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.