NASA’s NEOWISE spacecraft, a dedicated asteroid hunter, has reached the end of its mission after more than a decade of service. The final image captured by NEOWISE shows part of the Fornax constellation in the Southern Hemisphere, marking the conclusion of its 26,886,704th exposure.
Although the image may not seem exciting to the untrained eye, it holds significant value to scientists and engineers who have been involved in the NEOWISE mission. Dr. Amy Mainzer, an astronomer at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the principal investigator for NEOWISE, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to conduct this important work.
Initially launched in 2009 as WISE, the spacecraft was designed to study distant cosmic objects emitting infrared light. However, during its observations, scientists discovered that WISE was also adept at detecting asteroids. The spacecraft made significant discoveries, including the first asteroid sharing Earth’s orbit and valuable data on a space rock named Dinkinesh.
Following its initial survey, NASA extended the mission and rebranded the spacecraft as NEOWISE, focusing on asteroid detection within the solar system’s main asteroid belt. The spacecraft operated until 2011 when it was put into hibernation by the space agency.
The legacy of NEOWISE lives on through its contributions to our understanding of asteroids and comets, which could potentially pose a threat to Earth. The dedication and hard work of the scientists and engineers involved in the mission have paved the way for future research in space exploration and planetary defense.
As we bid farewell to NASA’s asteroid hunter, we reflect on its remarkable journey and the invaluable insights it has provided to the scientific community. The final image of the Fornax constellation serves as a poignant reminder of NEOWISE’s impact and the importance of continued exploration and discovery in our universe.
