 NASA's ASTHROS balloon observatory | |
| Mission type | Studying astrophysical phenomena |
|---|---|
| Operator | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | December 2024 (planned) |
| Launch site | Long Duration Balloon Facility |
ASTHROS (Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral Resolution Observations at Submillimeter-wavelengths) is a high-altitude balloon mission scheduled for launch in December 2024 from the Long Duration Balloon Facility near McMurdo Station in Antarctica.[1] It will be located at an altitude of around 130,000 ft (40 km), and feature an 8.4 ft (2.6 m) telescope to collect far-infrared light, with the detectors cooled down to 4 K (−452.47 °F; −269.15 °C).[1] Its main objective is to study stellar feedback in order to gain a better understanding of how star formation and galaxy evolution works.[2][3] Originally scheduled for December 2023,[2] it has since been pushed back to no earlier than December 2024. The weight of the observatory is estimated to be around 5,500 lb (2,500 kg).
It will study four main targets, including TW Hydrae, Messier 83 and the Carina Nebula, and will also detect and map nitrogen ions, in order to detect winds from massive stars and supernovae affecting gas clouds within those regions.[1][2] The telescope was designed by Italian optics company Media Lario,[4] while the balloon is being provided by NASA's Balloon Science Program. The Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University developed the gondola and pointing systems, and the Lockheed Martin Space Advanced Technology Center developed the payload cryocooler: while other missions use liquid helium to keep instruments cold, ASTHROS will instead use a cryocooler powered by solar panels.[1]
- ^ a b c d "ASTHROS". jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "NASA Mission Will Study the Cosmos With a Stratospheric Balloon". jpl.nasa.gov. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "NASA's Stratospheric Balloon Mission Gets Telescope With Giant Mirror". NASA. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "Stratospheric balloon to lift telescope with giant mirror over Antarctica". New Atlas. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2024.