Streaking skyward, Boeing Delta 2-Heavy rocket carries NASA' Space InfraRedTelescope Facility (SIRTF) aloft duringthe early morning hours of August 25th.The dramatic scene was recorded in a time exposure from the pierin Jetty Park at the northern end of Cocoa Beach, Florida,about 2.5 miles from the Cape Canaveral launch site.SIRTF (sounds like "sir tiff") will explore the distan Universe in infrared lightas the fourth and finalsatellite observatory in NASA' Great Observatories Program.The three other large astrophysics satellites were designedfor higher energies in the electromagnetic spectrum, with th Hubble Space Telescopeoperating near visible wavelengths, th Compton Gamma Ray Observatoryinstruments sensitive to gamma rays, and th Chandra Observatorydetecting cosmic x-rays.SIRTF has been launched into a Earth-trailingsolar orbit to reduce its exposure to infrared radiation fromour fair planet.Cooled by an on board supply o liquid helium,SIRTF's infrared detectors will operate at near absolute zerotemperatures.Presently, SIRTF's systems are undergoing a 90-day check out.
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