The 'Humble Space Telescope' Successfully Launched

frank249 writes "CTV News is reporting that Canada's first space telescope was successfully launched into orbit as part of a multiple payload mission from Plesetsk, Russia, on an SS-19 based launch vehicle called Rockot. The MOST (nick named the 'Humble' due to its tiny size) set off Monday on a mission to answer a question common to astronomers, physicists, and those of us who just like to gaze up at the stars: How old is the universe? There was a previous article on Slashdot in Dec 2001 but it is nice to see it finally in orbit especially as today is also Canada Day."

Comments

synthetic apperature interferometry?

[js7a]

From the MOST project summary ("Detection and characterisation of ... reflected light from giant exoplanets closely orbiting Sun-like stars, to reveal their sizes and atmospheric compositions...."), it would seem that they are trying to break some planet finding ground, but it is unclear to me whether the control and position systems are accurate enough for synthetic apperature interferometry.

Are they? If so, are they planning cooperation with land-based or other space telescopes?

P.S. Has anyone noticed that NASA/JPL switched the labels of Earth and Jupiter in this picture on the "What is TPF?" page?

student paper

[caffeine_monkey]

here's an article from the ubyssey, the student paper at ubc. it has some longer quotes from the researcher: http://www.ubyssey.bc.ca/article.shtml?/20010126/p rofLooksToStars.htmlf

More Coverage

[frank249]

There is a good article at space.com and more details with pictures at the Eurocket site. The Globe and Mail notes that the mission set a record for having 9 payloads and placing 8 satelites in orbit.