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Topic Name: NASA Restarts Telescope Mission to Detect Black Holes
Category: Nuclear
Research persons: Alan Stern, Jon Morse
Location: P.O. Box 5425 , Colorado Springs, CO 80931, United States
Details
NASA has made a decision to restart an
astronomy mission that will have
greater capability than any existing instrument for detecting black holes in the
local universe.
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, is managed by JPL. It will
expand our understanding of the origins and destinies of stars and galaxies.
NASA had stopped the study effort on the mission in 2006 due to funding
pressures within the Science Mission Directorate.
"We are very excited to be able restart the
NuSTAR mission, which we expect to
be launched in 2011," said Alan Stern, associate administrator for the Science
Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "NuSTAR has more than
500 times the sensitivity of previous instruments that detect black holes. It's
a great opportunity for us to explore an important astronomical frontier. We are
getting more and more from the science budget we have, and the restart of the
highly-valued NuSTAR mission is an example of that."
The mission will bridge the gap between the 2009 launch of the Wide-field
Infrared Survey Explorer and the 2013 launch of the James Webb Space Telescope.
The spacecraft will map areas of the sky in the light of high-energy X-rays and
complement astrophysics missions that explore the cosmos in other regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
"NuSTAR will perform deep observations in
hard X-rays to detect black holes of
all sizes and other exotic phenomena," said Jon Morse, director of the
Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. "It will perform cutting-edge
science using advanced technologies and help to provide a balance between small
and large missions in the NASA astrophysics portfolio."
The mission is a part of NASA's Explorer Program. The program provides frequent,
low-cost access to space for missions with small- to mid-sized spacecraft. The
Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array originally was selected from proposals
submitted in response to an announcement of opportunity in 2003. Fiona Harrison
of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, is the mission's principal
investigator. JPL is a division of Caltech.
NASA expects to select three additional Small Explorer missions for flight in
the first half of the next decade through a competitive selection within the
astrophysics and heliophysics scientific communities.
The Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., manages the Explorer Program
for the Science Mission Directorate.
Orbital Sciences Corp., Dulles, Va., is the
industry partner for the mission.
About Researcher:
Alan Stern, Jon Morse
John Morse for Senate
P.O. Box 5425
Colorado Springs, CO 80931
To volunteer or for more information:
Phone: (719) 237-7344
E-mail: info@MorseForSenate.com
Campaign Headquarters: 21 N. Iowa St.
About John Morse:
John is the eldest of ten children in a military family that moved to
Colorado Springs when he was 9 years old. He grew up here and graduated from
Mitchell High School. He is proud of his strong ties to Colorado.
He received his undergraduate degree in accounting and finance from the
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, after spending two years at Boulder.
He worked his way through college as an EMT on a paramedic ambulance, then later
went to work as a CPA.
His interest in public affairs led him to switch from accounting to police work,
and he earned an MBA from Regis University and a second master's degree and
Ph.D. in public administration.
John spent 9 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department where he
ultimately advanced to Sergeant. He then moved to Fountain, CO and became the
city's Chief of Police. The three stars at the top of the page, the same as the
three he wore as Police Chief, pay tribute to the time he spent protecting the
citizens of Colorado Springs and Fountain.
He most recently accepted the position as President and CEO of one of Colorado
Springs most prestigious non-profit organizations, Silver Key Senior Services.
Since November of 2004, John has been working steadfastly to maintain the good
work that Silver Key has been known for in its more than 34 years in operation.
Media contacts: Jane Platt 818-354-0880
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Email: Jane.platt@jpl.nasa.gov
Grey Hautaluoma 202-358-0668
NASA Headquarters, Washington
Email:
grey.hautaluoma-1@nasa.gov
For more information:
about the NuSTAR mission, visit http://www.nustar.caltech.edu .
about NASA's Explorer Program, visit http://explorers.gsfc.nasa.gov .
about NASA and agency programs, visit http://www.nasa.gov .
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