NASA Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports

scientific enthusiasm amongst European astronomers to exploit the great astronomical potential of the far-IR and
submillimetre range.
Author
Far Infrared Radiation; Submillimeter Waves; Space Missions; Europe; Spaceborne Astronomy; Observatories
20040074271 Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Sagamihara, Japan
Future Far-IR and Submm Missions: Japanese Perspective
Nakagawa, Takao; New Concepts for Far-Infrared and Submillimeter Space Astronomy; April 2004, pp. 237-240; In English;
See also 20040074260; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A01, Hardcopy
We present the concept of the SPICA (Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics) mission, which
incorporates a 3.5 m telescope cooled to 4.5 K. SPICA will focus on high-resolution mid-to far-infrared observations with
unprecedented sensitivity. It will make great contributions to our understanding of important astronomical questions, such as
the history of star-formation in the universe, the birth and evolution of AGN, the formation of planets in extrasolar systems,
and the history of our solar system. In order to reduce the total weight dramatically, we propose a "warm launch"
cooled telescope concept; the telescope is to be launched at ambient temperature and is to be cooled in orbit to 4.5 K by a
modest mechanical cooler system with the assistance of effective radiative cooling. SPICA is proposed to be launched into a
halo orbit around S-E L2 in 2010.
Author
Far Infrared Radiation; Submillimeter Waves; Space Missions; Spaceborne Telescopes; Cosmology; Japan; Astrophysics
20040074272 National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA, USA
The Atacama Millimeter Array (ALMA): Imaging Cosmic Dawn at Near-THz Frequencies
Wootten, Alwyn; New Concepts for Far-Infrared and Submillimeter Space Astronomy; April 2004, pp. 247-255; In English;
See also 20040074260; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A02, Hardcopy
The Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or ALMA, is an international telescope project which will be built over the coming
decade in Northern Chile. With over 7000 square meters of collecting area comprised of 64 12m antennas arrayed over
baselines up to 14 kilometers in extent, ALMA will provide images of unprecedented clarity and detail. One revolutionary
feature of ALMA will be its ability to combine interferometric and single telescope data, providing complete flux recovery.
ALMA will cover a spectral wavelength range from 7 mm to 0.3 mm or shorter wavelengths, providing astronomy with its
first detailed look at the structures which emit Terahertz and subTerahertz photons, the most abundant photons in the Universe.
Author
Imaging Techniques; Telescopes; Cosmology; Spaceborne Astronomy; Frequency Ranges; Antenna Arrays
20040074277 Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA, USA
Science Questions for the Post-SIRTF and Herschel Era
Werner, Michael; New Concepts for Far-Infrared and Submillimeter Space Astronomy; April 2004, pp. 23-36; In English; See
also 20040074260; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A03, Hardcopy
The contents include the following: 1. SIRTF. Long wavelength surveys planned for SIRTF. Galaxy Discovery Rates for
Future Missions. Impact of SIRTF s Improved Resolution at 160um: Resolving the Background. 2. Polarimetry. Submillimeter
Polarimetry - The State of Play. Magnetic Vectors Across the Orion Molecular Cloud Core. Neutral and Ionized Molecular
Spectral Lines. Variation of Polarization With Wavelength. The Polarization Spectrum. Submillimeter Polarimetry - Looking
Ahead. 3.Confusion. Confusion at 500, 600 micron. 4. Extragalactic Science. Do Massive Black Holes and Galaxy Bulges
form Together? 5. Galactic Science. Can We See the First Generations of Stars and Metal Formation? The Birth of Planets
and the Origins of Life. Spatial Resolution at 100 microns. Far-ir/Sub-mm Transitions of Linear Carbon Clusters. Predicted
Spectra of Glycine.
Derived from text
Biological Evolution; Black Holes (Astronomy); Line Spectra; Molecular Clouds; Spatial Resolution
20040074278 European Space Agency. European Space Research and Technology Center, ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
The Herschel Mission
Pilbratt, Goeran; deGraauw, Thijs; Griffin, Matt; Poglitsch, Albrecht; New Concepts for Far-Infrared and Submillimeter Space
Astronomy; April 2004, pp. 256-258; In English; See also 20040074260; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A01, Hardcopy
The Herschel Space Observatory (formerly known as FIRST) is the fourth cornerstone mission in the European Space
301