Europe's Herschel Telescope Goes Dark

摘要

After nearly four years mapping the "hidden universe," the largest infrared telescope ever launched into space has reached the end of its life, European Space Agency (ESA) officials say. The $1.4 billion Herschel Space Observatory has exhausted the vital supply of liquid helium coolant that allowed it to make the most sensitive and detailed observations of the cosmos in infrared light, ESA officials announced April 29. The infrared space telescope's official end was recorded by a ground station in Australia, which recorded an increase in temperature for all of the spacecraft's instruments during the telescope's daily communications session.