New space project
(N Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CAPE KENNEDY, Nov. 22. The largest telescope built for use in space will be fired into orbit this week to study young, hot stars which may hold clues to the origin of the universe. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration had intended to launch the third orbjtjng astronomical observatory, 0.A.0.3 tomorrow night, but yesterday a gyroscope problem arose in the first stage of the AtlasCentaur rocket, and the shot was postponed. The gyroscope will be replaced. From its 466-mile high orbit, 0.A.0.3 will observe stars and galaxies through a 36in diameter telescope designed to give astronomers their clearest look at distant celestial bodies.
The largest telescope so far used in space is the 16in model on 0.A.0.2, which is still operating after nearlytwo years in space. The new telescope will concentrate on viewing ultraviolet light from young stars with ages up to a few million years. The oldest stars in the sky may be 10,000 million or more years old, the sun being considered middleaged, at about 5000 million years. *
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19701124.2.186
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 20
Word Count
177New space project Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 20
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.