UA Science
(Left Photo) From left: Dan Marrone, professor in the Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory; Jeff Kingsley, associate director for Steward Observatory; University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins; Carol Stewart, vice president for Tech Parks Arizona; Elizabeth "Betsy" Cantwell, UArizona senior vice president for research and innovation; and Kevin Illige, project manager for Concord General Contracting. (Right Photo) Exhibit featuring the far-infrared telescope for GUSTO, or Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory. (Chris Richards/University of Arizona)

Grand opening of new Mission Integration Lab for balloon-borne astronomy

The University of Arizona on Monday celebrated the opening of the Mission Integration Lab, a new research building in the UA Tech Park at The Bridges that will accommodate testing and preparation for balloon-borne astronomy missions.

Balloon-borne astronomy fills an important niche between ground-based observatories and space telescopes, allowing for the deployment of telescopes and other instruments to altitudes where they experience less interference from Earth's atmosphere. Modern balloon-borne observatories offer space-like views of the universe at a fraction of the time and cost of a full space mission.

The Mission Integration Lab provides a tall, hangar-like space, known as a "high bay," which allows researchers to prepare and test balloon payloads and other space payloads before their flights.

The Monday event featured remarks from University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins; Elizabeth "Betsy" Cantwell, UArizona senior vice president for research and innovation; and Carol Stewart, vice president for Tech Parks Arizona....

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Mike Lesser Awarded the 2022 Joseph Weber Award at AAS Meeting

Congratulations Mike Lesser for the 2022 Joseph Weber Award for Astronomical Instrumentation!

This award was presented at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting in Seattle for "innovative and foundational work on methods of thinning coating and reading out large-format back-side illuminated CCD detectors."

The Imaging Technology Lab (ITL) at Steward Observatory is dedicated to advancing scientific and industrial imaging science by developing enabling technologies for the University of Arizona and worldwide research sponsors. ITL has been at the forefront of providing...

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