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NASA To Cryogenically Freeze Satellite Mirrors

Posted by Soulskill on from the ain't-it-cool dept.

coondoggie writes "NASA said it will soon move some of the larger (46 lb) mirror segments of its future James Webb Space Telescope into a cryogenic test facility that will freeze the mirrors to -414 degrees Fahrenheit (~25 K). Specifically, NASA will freeze six of the 18 Webb telescope mirror segments at the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility, or XRCF, at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in a test to ensure the critical mirrors can withstand the extreme space environments. All 18 segments will eventually be tested at the site. The test chamber takes approximately five days to cool a mirror segment to cryogenic temperatures."

2 of 47 comments (clear)

  1. That's fine. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    That's fine that they are testing them at a cryogenic test facility... just keep the mirrors away from other substances that are probably frozen there. If not, they might get into a sticky situation.

  2. Re:Lets just hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    So, when people speak of the temperature of the cosmic microwave background, they're just confused?

    this is troll