Special Section Guest Editorial: Space Telescopes

Jacobus M. Oschmann Jr.; Mark Clampin; Howard A. MacEwen

doi:10.1117/1.OE.52.9.091801

25 September 2013 Special Section Guest Editorial: Space Telescopes

Jacobus M. Oschmann Jr., Mark Clampin, Howard A. MacEwen

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Optical Engineering, Vol. 52, Issue 9, 091801 (September 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.52.9.091801

Abstract

Space telescopes for astrophysics and astronomy have provided some of the most significant contributions to science throughout the history of the international space program. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) continues to amaze and astound the astronomical community with a seemingly endless stream of new discoveries and measurements while further captivating the public eye with its observations and imagery. The last HST servicing mission, which repaired existing instruments and installed two completely new instruments, has helped to ensure a continuation of the images and discoveries that have long captured the global public attention. In addition, the observations from HST are complemented by others, notably from the “warm” Spitzer Space Telescope mission, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the recently completed Herschel Space Observatory, and the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope (celebrating its fifth year on orbit). With these space-based observations complemented by observations from ground and airborne systems, the world is poised for continued discovery for many years to come. Though the budgetary environment remains challenging for all of these programs, in particular for new programs, significant future investment is in place for continued progress. As a major example, we are actively preparing for the results from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), on track for launch in 2018.

© The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

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Jacobus M. Oschmann Jr., Mark Clampin, and Howard A. MacEwen "Special Section Guest Editorial: Space Telescopes," Optical Engineering 52(9), 091801 (25 September 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.52.9.091801

Published: 25 September 2013

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