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NASA Announces WFIRST As a New Space Observatory (blastingnews.com)

Posted by yaelk on from the space-news dept.

MarkWhittington writes: While NASA has been touting the impending launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in 2018, the space agency is already discussing the space observatory due to take off after that, WFIRST. WFIRST was adapted from a spare telescope from the National Reconnaissance Organization. WFRST is due to be launched in the mid-2020s, having evolved from a study to a full-fledged project. The telescope is estimated to cost $2 billion from now until the time it is launched and deployed.

8 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. to "i" or not to "i" by turkeydance · · Score: 1

    that's my question.

    1. Re:to "i" or not to "i" by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 1

      It's not like the human eye can see infrared anyhow. ;-)

    2. Re:to "i" or not to "i" by burtosis · · Score: 1

      It's not like the human eye can see infrared anyhow. ;-)

      Actually you can see infrared past what is typically considered the human vision spectrum. It appears as a deep red color, simply look at led infrared emitters for cheap night vision cameras and you will see a dull glow in low ambient light at the junction. It's not producing light out of band it's actually your cones picking up the light as a weak red signal. I've been able to see past 1000nm in this fashion, but be careful as its not great on your eyes to stare directly at high intensity light even if it is past the human range of sight.

  2. Dupe? by burtosis · · Score: 2

    Either it's typical /. Editors or I haven't had enough coffee to compensate my alcohol use. link

    1. Re:Dupe? by pr0fessor · · Score: 1

      I thought there was a glitch in the matrix...

      The previous was about the NASA press release this one is the press release they both should have been in the same post as they are both from the 18th.

  3. So it begins by gurps_npc · · Score: 1

    The US' attempt to spy on aliens will not be the first invasion of our alien overlord's privacy, but tit shall be the last! { end joke }

    --
    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
  4. WFIRST WPOST by davidwr · · Score: 2

    Or WSEVENTH or WEIGHTH or WSOMESUCH.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  5. NRO mirror by XXongo · · Score: 1

    This is an old spy satellite for the Navy

    No, not Navy: NRO. It was apparently the mirror built for the next-generation reconaissance satellite, which got cancelled.
    Also, it's not the whole spy satellite-- it's just the mirror. http://www.sciencemag.org/news...

    some more links of interest:
    http://www.sciencemag.org/news...
    http://www.skyandtelescope.com...