Telescope Blankets

Engineers test components that will keep a telescope warm in space.

telescope blankets
NASA is mostly closed for business, including posting any new photos for the public, so we're glad we bookmarked this photo bookmarked this photo posted by the center at Goddard a couple weeks ago. This rabbit-suited-up engineer is preparing thermal blankets for the James Webb Space Telescope to be tested in a vacuum chamber. As described on the Instagram post: Those blankets are made of aluminized kapton, a polymer film that remains stable over a wide range of temperatures. Just as blankets insulate people from cold, these golden-colored thermal blankets help prevent heat from seeping into the vacuum chamber that will drop temperatures to mimic those of deep space. Photo: NASA Goddard / Chris Gunn NASA Goddard / Chris Gunn

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