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Leicester involved in new space telescope that 'looks back in time'

Posted on 27/04/09
University of Leicester

The next generation of space instrumentation which will effectively allow scientists to look back in time is to be discussed at a meeting of international scientists and engineers at the University of Leicester.

The Universitys Space Research Centre one of the biggest academic centres of its kind in Europe is hosting a three-day conference between April 2830 at the Universitys conference centre in Oadby.

The University is closely involved in building an instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scheduled for launch in 2013. This is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and will be the premier astrophysics observatory of the next decade.

JWST will look outwards - and effectively back in time - to discover some of the earliest objects formed in the universe, and be able to look at locations in space that are heavily blanketed by dense clouds of dust and gas. It will have a 6.5m diameter mirror (2.5 times that of Hubble) and will be several hundred times more sensitive than current infrared telescopes.

The University of Leicesters Space Research Centre Manager, John Pye, said: JWST will have 4 scientific instruments. One of these instruments the MidInfrared Instrument (MIRI) is being designed and built by a European Consortium of scientific institutions and industry, including the University of Leicester.

We provide the structural and mechanical engineering lead for the design and development of MIRI, and with colleagues at the Danish National Space Centre (DNSC) are responsible for the MIRI Primary Structure that ensures that all the critical components of the instrument are held in close alignment even through the large vibrations and shock of launch (on a European Space Agency Ariane-V rocket) and during cool-down to the operational temperature of -266 C (just 7 degrees above absolute zero).

The MIRI Consortium will be holding a major project meeting, hosted by the University of Leicester, from 28-30 April 2009 attended by 70 engineers, scientists and managers from around Europe.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the progress and future planning of the MIRI instrument and planning for early astronomical observations. Several staff from the Universitys Department of Physics and Astronomy will be closely involved.

Dr Pye, who is the Universitys lead staff member for MIRI, said: Its great to be able to welcome so many colleagues from around Europe to Leicester at this exciting time in the project. The James Webb Space Telescope will in a few years time succeed Hubble as the premier astronomical space observatory, and will be used by thousands of scientists worldwide.

Jon Sykes, of the Universitys Space Research Centre, who is the mechanical engineering lead for the whole MIRI Consortium, added: As a ground-breaking astronomical instrument, MIRI has presented many engineering challenges, which the multi-national design team have worked together to meet and produce a world-class facility.

Dr Pye added: The project has now successfully built and tested two full-size test models of MIRI. The component parts of the final model (Flight Model) are currently nearing completion at various locations around the UK (including Leicester), the rest of Europe and in the USA. MIRI will be delivered to NASA during 2010.

JWST is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. MIRI is a joint European and US project. Funding for MIRI work in the UK is provided by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The MIRI European Consortium is led by Professor Gillian Wright of STFCs Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh.

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