Misson Seeks to Resurrect Retired Spitzer Telescope...

The Spitzer Space Telescope, which has been idle for over three years, could soon have a new purpose as a defender against dangerous asteroids. Rhea Space Activity has been selected to develop the Spitzer Resurrector Mission, which will service and restore the telescope to operations for the mission. The Spitzer Resurrector Mission will use in-space service assembly and manufacturing techniques to repurpose the telescope, enabling it to detect and characterize potentially hazardous Near Earth Objects. The mission is expected to launch in 2026, and it will be the most complex robotic mission ever performed by humanity.