3 ms·
Does this mean an ion thruster or solar sail could have significantly increased the service life? Or would something else give out shortly after the fuel runs o
by skyfaller 5y ago
Does this mean an ion thruster or solar sail could have significantly increased the service life? Or would something else give out shortly after the fuel runs out?
- Vvector 5y agoIt is due to orbit in L2, in eternal shade of earth. So no solar power
- gadnuk 5y agoNo, that's not true. It will be orbiting around L2 and not stay at L2, so it will have access to sunlight, which powers the solar array that faces the sun. The actual observatory and the mirror are shielded by the sunshield. Here is Dr. John Mather explaining it: https://youtu.be/4P8fKd0IVOs?t=1321 https://youtu.be/4P8fKd0IVOs?t=1321