A private US company will revive the 'Great Observatory' Spitzer, which sits behind the Sun

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a Great Observatories programme that has launched four telescopes into space. One of them is called Spitzer. It was shut down a few years ago, but may soon be back in operation.

Here's What We Know

Spitzer is behind the Sun. Because of this, NASA scientists have lost contact with it. Due to the inability to resume communication in 2020, the space agency has decided to shut down the observatory. It is now twice as far from the Sun as our planet.

Rhea Space Activity will help bring the telescope back to life. It will develop a satellite measuring 1 x 1 meter, which will be sent to Spitzer and will be used as a repeater.

The US Space Force has awarded a $250,000 grant to develop the vehicle. It is expected to travel to the telescope in 2020. Along the way, the satellite will investigate solar flares and, upon arrival, will conduct an assessment of Spitzer.

In conclusion, Spitzer is the newest telescope of the four Great Observatories. It was launched in 2003. Hubble was the first to go into space, in 1990, followed by Compton (1991) and Chandra (1999). Compton was sunk in the Pacific Ocean in 2000 after one of its gyroscopes failed.

Source: arstechnica