Monday, August 25, 2003

UR News Release on SIRTF Launch and Email from Watson from the Launch Site

MEDIA CONTACT: Jonathan Sherwood (585) 273-4726

August 25, 2003

UPDATE: SIRTF Launches Successfully, Begins Self-Checkup

At 1:35 this morning, the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) was launched successfully into orbit after more than a year and a half of delays. The telescope circles the sun--not the Earth--as it peers into the cosmos in the infrared spectrum for the next five years.

     "The launch was beautiful to watch," said Dan Watson, one of three University of Rochester astronomers including Judith Pipher and William Forrest, who helped design the infrared detectors on the telescope. Watson went to see the launch at Cape Canaveral. There was a tense moment establishing the first telemetry lock with the telescope about an hour after launch, but communications are now working and the new satellite appears to functioning well.

     Over the next several weeks the telescope will undergo several tests and checkups to confirm that all its instruments are functioning, and regular observations are expected to start within three months.

     NASA will rename SIRTF, as it has renamed other space telescopes such as Hubble and Chandra. The new name will be revealed at a press conference to be held in December--about the same time the first images from the telescope are made available to the public.

The following is an Email from Dan Watson at Cape Canaveral

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At 1:35:39 this morning, the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) was (finally!) launched successfully into its heliocentric orbit, beginning its five year mission of exploration of the origins of galaxies, stars and planets. The launch was beautiful to watch, as the skies cleared over Cape Canaveral just in time; there was a little trouble, about an hour after takeoff, establishing the first telemetry lock between the observatory and the Deep Space Network, but the satellite is communicating well now, and so far everything seems to be OK.

It will take weeks to find out how the telescope and instruments are doing, and three months before the observatory is ready to begin regular observations. We'll keep you informed of the progress.

Cheers, Dan

Article submitted by:
Arie Bodek
8/25/03; 10:36:28 AM

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