As space telescopes go through upgrades, larger detector arrays that offer improved sensitivity and reduced noise will benefit a range of research and defense applications.FAROOQ AHMED, CONTRIBUTING EDITORAugust 25 marked the Spitzer Space Telescope’s “sweet 16.” Launched in 2003 with a planned primary mission of 2.5 to 5 years, the infrared observatory — the last of NASA’s Great Observatories to take flight — far outlasted its initial mandate, depleting its store of liquid helium coolant and transitioning into a “warm mission” in 2009 (Figure 1). Figure 1. The Spitzer Space Telescope seen against the IR sky. The band of light is the glowing dust emission from the Milky Way galaxy seen at 100 µm (as seen by the IRAS and COBE...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESPrimary Mirror Completed for NASA’s Roman Space TelescopeThe Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror has been completed, NASA announced. 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