2 ms·
I assume it could still be operated for a few months out of the year when it runs out of fuel, assuming the thermal cycles don't trash the ability to align and
by willis936 5y ago
I assume it could still be operated for a few months out of the year when it runs out of fuel, assuming the thermal cycles don't trash the ability to align and calibrate everything.
- dredmorbius 5y agoThe problem is maintaining station at L2. Insufficient fuel means not remaining on station. There's probably an end-of-life contingency to push the telescope "over the top" as EOL is approached, such that it transitions to an independent heliocentric orbit rather than endangering other L2 missions or returning (eventually) to Earth along an uncontrolled trajectory.