NASA considering its options for using donated satellites
FEB 06, 2013
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.026747
New Scientist : Last year NASA was offered two military spy telescopes by the National Reconnaissance Office. Similar in size and capabilities to the Hubble Space Telescope, the two satellites have been in storage for the last 20 years. Now NASA is trying to determine how to use them. At a two-day conference at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, agency officials will be discussing 33 proposals, which include using the telescopes to study dark energy, look for exoplanets, and map space debris around Earth. George Fletcher, who is heading the search for ideas, says the one thing the telescopes won’t be used for is to look at Earthâmdash;in order to avoid accusations that NASA is engaging in espionage. The conference members will select up to six of the proposals and announce the agency’s plans in May.
© 2013 American Institute of Physics
