The Beyond phase of Spitzer’s orbit and its advancing age have introduced new challenges for the spacecraft. As Spitzer travels around the sun at a slower pace, it lags behind Earth’s orbit, causing the distance between them to widen over time. To ensure effective communication with Earth, Spitzer must angle its antenna at higher positions towards the sun as it moves farther away. However, this causes parts of the spacecraft to experience increased heat. Furthermore, as the solar panels on Spitzer point away from the sun and receive less sunlight, it puts additional stress on the batteries.
To facilitate this riskier mode of operations, the mission team will need to override certain autonomous safety systems on Spitzer. These adjustments are necessary to ensure that the spacecraft can continue its mission effectively despite the challenges posed by its unique orbit and advancing age. By addressing these engineering challenges, the team can optimize Spitzer’s performance during the Beyond phase and maximize the scientific data collected by the spacecraft.
The Beyond phase of Spitzer’s orbit has brought about significant changes in its operations. The distance between Spitzer and Earth is widening as it travels around the sun at a slower pace than our planet’s orbit. To communicate with Earth effectively during this phase, Spitzer must angle its antenna at higher positions towards the sun as it moves farther away. This causes parts of the spacecraft to experience increased heat.
In addition to communication challenges, Spitzer’s solar panels are also pointing away from
