Jet propulsion laboratory NASA (JPL), which manages the project, is going to send the telescope in a three-week journey over Antarctica. Hovering at an altitude of about 40 kilometers, the craft will observe the far infrared light, which is well visible young stars.
“Although it is significantly below the edge of space, it would still be high enough to observe the light wave, is blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere,” explains NASA on its web site.
Work on the telescope has ended recently. Testing will begin next month, to make sure that all components are functioning properly.
The Observatory will make measurements of movement and speed of gas around newly formed stars, exploring different places, which include two zvezdoobrazovaniya region in the milky Way galaxy. Also, scientists hope that the device will be able to detect special types of nitrogen ions in these clouds, which can potentially indicate a place “where the winds from massive stars and supernova explosions changed the shape of gas clouds”. The researchers suggest that these processes may accelerate or inhibit the birth of new stars. After studying them, experts can create more accurate computer models of the evolution of galaxies.
NASA planned the start of the mission in December 2023. ASTHROS fly from Antarctica and make a few flights around the South pole for almost 30 days.
“hot air ballooning, such as ASTHROS, more risky than space, but give much at a modest cost,” commented engineer JPL Jose Silas, head of the project.
“With ASTHROS we intend to carry out astrophysical observations that have never been made. This mission will pave the way for future space missions, testing new technology and providing training for the next generation of engineers and scientists.”
