Spitzer Space Telescope
AgencyNASA
Year2003-2020
TypeInfrared astronomy
RocketDelta II
CountryUSA
About the Mission
The fourth Great Observatory, seeing the universe in infrared light. Discovered a vast faint ring around Saturn invisible to the eye. Studied exoplanets as they crossed their stars. Ran out of coolant in 2009 yet kept observing for 11 more years in warm mode. Retired in 2020 as Webb took over.
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