Post by sherlew99 on Nov 4, 2016 12:41:20 GMT -6
IFLScience
NASA's Huge New Space Telescope Is Finally Complete
By Jonathan O'Callaghan
03/11/2016, 15:03
The space telescope's huge new primary mirror, the biggest ever built, was unveiled yesterday at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. With its 18 gold-plated hexagonal mirrors measuring 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) across, it will have 100 times the observing power of Hubble when it launches in 2018.
Also this week, it was announced that construction of the vast tennis court-sized sunshield that will protect the telescope's optics from the Sun's rays was complete. After further testing, the mirror and sunshield will eventually be integrated together.
NASA's Huge New Space Telescope Is Finally Complete
By Jonathan O'Callaghan
03/11/2016, 15:03
The space telescope's huge new primary mirror, the biggest ever built, was unveiled yesterday at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. With its 18 gold-plated hexagonal mirrors measuring 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) across, it will have 100 times the observing power of Hubble when it launches in 2018.
Also this week, it was announced that construction of the vast tennis court-sized sunshield that will protect the telescope's optics from the Sun's rays was complete. After further testing, the mirror and sunshield will eventually be integrated together.
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