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What was STIS?

April 26, 2017STIs

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What was STIS?

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STIS stands for: Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. The instrument stopped operating due to a power failure in August 2004. STIS separated ultraviolet and optical light into its component colors, giving scientists much-needed information about an object’s composition, temperature, motion and other chemical and physical properties. Currently, STIS is in “safe” mode: The instrument and its on-board computer are switched off but the heaters are on to ensure a healthy and stable thermal environment. STIS could be repaired during a future servicing mission. The instrument was developed by Goddard Space Flight Center’s Laboratory for Astronomy and Solar Physics. The principal investigator was Dr. Bruce E. Woodgate.