Astronomers now have the most powerful tool yet given them to scan the cosmos in infrared frequencies of light
correspond to objects such as exoplanets that have no internal source of heat, and hotter but more distant bodies whose light has been stretched from visibility into the infrared by the expansion of the universe. Since “farther away” also means “longer ago” in cosmic terms, this will enable it to spot signs of the cosmic dawn, the moment when the universe’s first stars ignited.
The launch’s accuracy meant midcourse corrections needed to put the telescope in orbit used less fuel than budgeted. That leaves more for the small adjustments needed to keep the instrument on station. Since station-keeping is the main constraint on how long the mission can last, that matters. The initial goal was ten years, butnow reckons it can keep the telescope in place for 20.
The release of this image , along with a few more that will come on Tuesday, marks the conclusion of the telescope’s commissioning, a lengthy process intended to make sure it is fit for purpose. Management will now be transferred to the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which will have the thankless task of allocating time on it to eager astronomers. The good news is that the new estimates of its working life mean many more requests will eventually be fulfilled.
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