NASA’s adapted spy satellite passes key design review
FEB 19, 2016
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029590
Popular Science : After receiving support from Congress in a recent funding bill, the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFirst) has been upgraded by NASA from “a mission under study” to “a mission NASA is pursuing/intends to execute.” A spy satellite gifted to NASA by the National Reconnaissance Office, WFirst has the same 2.4-m-diameter mirror as the Hubble Space Telescope but a much wider field of view. The upgraded status does not guarantee the telescope will make it to space. But the decision should help accelerate development of both a mission plan and the work to outfit the telescope with instruments.
© 2016 American Institute of Physics
