EXCITE's goal is to study atmospheres around hot Jupiters, gas giant exoplanets that complete an orbit once every one to two days and have temperatures in the thousands of degrees.
The telescope is designed fly to about 132,000 feet (40 kilometers) via a scientific balloon filled with helium. That takes it above 99.5% of Earth’s atmosphere. At that altitude, it can observe multiple infrared wavelengths with little interference. In the future, EXCITE could take observations over both Arctic and Antarctic, with the latter offering longer duration flights optimum for observing planets for their entire orbit.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376627, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376627", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NASA Goddard astrophysicist Kyle Helson looks at EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) as it dangles from the ceiling of a hangar at NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.\r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: A man looks at a large telescope in a hangar. \r
\r
Image description: A crane suspends a shiny silver telescope in a large hangar at night. The top is conical, with a section cut out for a cylinder. The body is rhombus-shaped and has two shiny rectangular panels attached to the bottom that extend slightly in front of the telescope. The background shows the hangar is full of equipment, and the foreground shows the outside of the building. There are orange cones in front of the hanger doors. A person in a reflective vest and hard hat stands to the left of the open doors.", "items": [ { "id": 444256, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139605, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Telescope.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Telescope.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicist Kyle Helson looks at EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) as it dangles from the ceiling of a hangar at NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.\r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: A man looks at a large telescope in a hangar. \r\rImage description: A crane suspends a shiny silver telescope in a large hangar at night. The top is conical, with a section cut out for a cylinder. The body is rhombus-shaped and has two shiny rectangular panels attached to the bottom that extend slightly in front of the telescope. The background shows the hangar is full of equipment, and the foreground shows the outside of the building. There are orange cones in front of the hanger doors. A person in a reflective vest and hard hat stands to the left of the open doors.", "width": 7598, "height": 4877, "pixels": 37055446 } }, { "id": 444257, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139619, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Telescope_searchweb.png", "filename": "EXCITE_Telescope_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicist Kyle Helson looks at EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) as it dangles from the ceiling of a hangar at NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.\r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: A man looks at a large telescope in a hangar. \r\rImage description: A crane suspends a shiny silver telescope in a large hangar at night. The top is conical, with a section cut out for a cylinder. The body is rhombus-shaped and has two shiny rectangular panels attached to the bottom that extend slightly in front of the telescope. The background shows the hangar is full of equipment, and the foreground shows the outside of the building. There are orange cones in front of the hanger doors. A person in a reflective vest and hard hat stands to the left of the open doors.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 444258, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139620, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Telescope_thm.png", "filename": "EXCITE_Telescope_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard astrophysicist Kyle Helson looks at EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) as it dangles from the ceiling of a hangar at NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.\r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: A man looks at a large telescope in a hangar. \r\rImage description: A crane suspends a shiny silver telescope in a large hangar at night. The top is conical, with a section cut out for a cylinder. The body is rhombus-shaped and has two shiny rectangular panels attached to the bottom that extend slightly in front of the telescope. The background shows the hangar is full of equipment, and the foreground shows the outside of the building. There are orange cones in front of the hanger doors. A person in a reflective vest and hard hat stands to the left of the open doors.", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376628, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376628", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Every fall, CSBF launches multiple missions like EXCITE from the Fort Sumner Municipal Airport, shown here. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\r
Alt text: Two hangars rise above an arid landscape.\r
\t\r
Image description: Two metal buildings stand in an arid landscape. The sky is a dusty blue, shading to white at the horizon and takes up the top two-thirds of the image. The lower third is occupied by the two buildings. The first, an aircraft hangar, is long and gray with a domed top. The second building, to the right of the first, is smaller but taller. It’s white with “NASA” written in red on the side. In the foreground are brown grasses and scrubby green bushes.", "items": [ { "id": 444277, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139615, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00007.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00007.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Every fall, CSBF launches multiple missions like EXCITE from the Fort Sumner Municipal Airport, shown here. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: Two hangars rise above an arid landscape.\r\t\rImage description: Two metal buildings stand in an arid landscape. The sky is a dusty blue, shading to white at the horizon and takes up the top two-thirds of the image. The lower third is occupied by the two buildings. The first, an aircraft hangar, is long and gray with a domed top. The second building, to the right of the first, is smaller but taller. It’s white with “NASA” written in red on the side. In the foreground are brown grasses and scrubby green bushes.", "width": 6720, "height": 4480, "pixels": 30105600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376629, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376629", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Fort Sumner is home to wildlife like scorpions, tarantulas, and jack rabbits.\r
\r
Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\r
Alt text: A jack rabbit sits on a pebbly road. \r
\r
Image description: A long-eared brown and white jack rabbit looks alertly at the camera. Both ears are extended above its head. It’s seated to the right side of a brown dirt road. To the left of the road are long brown and green grasses. To the right are trees. Out-of-focus buildings are visible in the distance. ", "items": [ { "id": 444283, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139616, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00008.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00008.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Fort Sumner is home to wildlife like scorpions, tarantulas, and jack rabbits.\r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: A jack rabbit sits on a pebbly road. \r\rImage description: A long-eared brown and white jack rabbit looks alertly at the camera. Both ears are extended above its head. It’s seated to the right side of a brown dirt road. To the left of the road are long brown and green grasses. To the right are trees. Out-of-focus buildings are visible in the distance. ", "width": 6290, "height": 4193, "pixels": 26373970 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376630, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376630", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Tim Rehm, a graduate student at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, installs a protective lid over the opening of EXCITE’s telescope. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\r
Alt text: A man works on a telescope in a hangar. \r
\r
Image description: A man in a blue shirt and an orange and camo baseball cap uses a small wrench to install a plastic cover over the opening of a telescope. He’s standing behind and to the right of the telescope and is visible from the waist up. The telescope is a shiny silver cylinder with a black knob in the middle inside a white metal frame. Coils of black cable rest on the front of the frame. Text on a white metal structure beneath the telescope, at lower right, reads \"Danger, Pinch Point.\" The man and the telescope are inside a large white hangar. ", "items": [ { "id": 444295, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139607, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00001.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00001.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Tim Rehm, a graduate student at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, installs a protective lid over the opening of EXCITE’s telescope. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: A man works on a telescope in a hangar. \r\rImage description: A man in a blue shirt and an orange and camo baseball cap uses a small wrench to install a plastic cover over the opening of a telescope. He’s standing behind and to the right of the telescope and is visible from the waist up. The telescope is a shiny silver cylinder with a black knob in the middle inside a white metal frame. Coils of black cable rest on the front of the frame. Text on a white metal structure beneath the telescope, at lower right, reads \"Danger, Pinch Point.\" The man and the telescope are inside a large white hangar. ", "width": 6105, "height": 4069, "pixels": 24841245 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376631, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376631", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Annalies Kleyheeg, a graduate student at Brown, attaches one of the radiator panels EXCITE uses to shed heat produced by its cryocooler. Rehm and Helson assist.\r
\r
Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\r
Alt text: A woman attaches a part to a telescope with assistance from two men. \r
\t\r
Image description: A woman in a cream cardigan and blue baseball cap attaches a shiny silver rectangular panel to a telescope. The image is framed so she stands between two men with their backs to the camera, with the panel in between them. The man on the left wears a yellow reflective vest and a camo baseball hat. The man on the right wears a black T-shirt. The woman only rises to the halfway point of the telescope. The telescope, in the background, is a shiny silver cylinder in a rhombus-shaped base with white boxes attached to the side.", "items": [ { "id": 444298, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139611, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00003.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00003.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Annalies Kleyheeg, a graduate student at Brown, attaches one of the radiator panels EXCITE uses to shed heat produced by its cryocooler. Rehm and Helson assist.\r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: A woman attaches a part to a telescope with assistance from two men. \r\t\rImage description: A woman in a cream cardigan and blue baseball cap attaches a shiny silver rectangular panel to a telescope. The image is framed so she stands between two men with their backs to the camera, with the panel in between them. The man on the left wears a yellow reflective vest and a camo baseball hat. The man on the right wears a black T-shirt. The woman only rises to the halfway point of the telescope. The telescope, in the background, is a shiny silver cylinder in a rhombus-shaped base with white boxes attached to the side.", "width": 6607, "height": 4405, "pixels": 29103835 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376632, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376632", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Lee Bernard, a graduate student at Arizona State University in Tempe, connects an LED light so the team can read a thermometer inside the gondola via a camera feed during flight. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\t\r
Alt text: A man uses a hot air gun to solder two wires.\r
\r
Image description: A bearded man wearing a red-and-blue plaid shirt and glasses holds what looks like a black hairdryer — a hot air gun. He’s on the right side of the image, with his head tilted toward the camera. The hot air gun is also tilted toward the camera, with the interior visible and glowing orange. The man holds two attached wires in front of the hot air gun with his other hand. The white wall in the background is covered in a large-gauge wire mesh and has several outlets attached. ", "items": [ { "id": 444306, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139621, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00002_print.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00002_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Lee Bernard, a graduate student at Arizona State University in Tempe, connects an LED light so the team can read a thermometer inside the gondola via a camera feed during flight. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\t\rAlt text: A man uses a hot air gun to solder two wires.\r\rImage description: A bearded man wearing a red-and-blue plaid shirt and glasses holds what looks like a black hairdryer — a hot air gun. He’s on the right side of the image, with his head tilted toward the camera. The hot air gun is also tilted toward the camera, with the interior visible and glowing orange. The man holds two attached wires in front of the hot air gun with his other hand. The white wall in the background is covered in a large-gauge wire mesh and has several outlets attached. ", "width": 1024, "height": 682, "pixels": 698368 } }, { "id": 444305, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139608, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00002.JPG", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00002.JPG", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Lee Bernard, a graduate student at Arizona State University in Tempe, connects an LED light so the team can read a thermometer inside the gondola via a camera feed during flight. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\t\rAlt text: A man uses a hot air gun to solder two wires.\r\rImage description: A bearded man wearing a red-and-blue plaid shirt and glasses holds what looks like a black hairdryer — a hot air gun. He’s on the right side of the image, with his head tilted toward the camera. The hot air gun is also tilted toward the camera, with the interior visible and glowing orange. The man holds two attached wires in front of the hot air gun with his other hand. The white wall in the background is covered in a large-gauge wire mesh and has several outlets attached. ", "width": 6720, "height": 4480, "pixels": 30105600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376633, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376633", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Peter Nagler, EXCITE’s principal investigator, carefully attaches steel weights to the top of the telescope to balance it. EXCITE is so stable once balanced that it can hold a steady gaze on a U.S. quarter coin from 60 miles away. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\r
Alt text: A man attaches weights to a telescope in a hangar. \r
\r
Image description: A bearded man in a black T-shirt, a tan baseball hat, and blue gloves grins while he works on a shiny silver telescope. The camera is looking up at him, so he’s only visible from the waist up behind the telescope. His left hand is lifted, and his right hand holds the screw attaching a large weight to the cylinder of the telescope. He’s in a large white hangar. The telescope rests in a metal frame with many wires and other pieces of electrical equipment attached. ", "items": [ { "id": 444311, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139613, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00005.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00005.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Peter Nagler, EXCITE’s principal investigator, carefully attaches steel weights to the top of the telescope to balance it. EXCITE is so stable once balanced that it can hold a steady gaze on a U.S. quarter coin from 60 miles away. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: A man attaches weights to a telescope in a hangar. \r\rImage description: A bearded man in a black T-shirt, a tan baseball hat, and blue gloves grins while he works on a shiny silver telescope. The camera is looking up at him, so he’s only visible from the waist up behind the telescope. His left hand is lifted, and his right hand holds the screw attaching a large weight to the cylinder of the telescope. He’s in a large white hangar. The telescope rests in a metal frame with many wires and other pieces of electrical equipment attached. ", "width": 6049, "height": 4033, "pixels": 24395617 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376634, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376634", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Khing Klangboonkrong, a Brown graduate student, covers EXCITE with single-sided aluminized Mylar. The material reflects sunlight to keep the telescope from getting too hot when it reaches 130,000 feet. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\r
Alt text: A woman works on a telescope in a hangar. \r
\r
Image description: A woman in a navy T-shirt, white baseball cap, and purple gloves places shiny foil-like material on a large telescope. The image is framed so she’s only visible from the waist up. The telescope partially obscures the arm closest to the camera. The telescope is a shiny silver cylinder that has wires and other electrical equipment attached. It’s inside a large white hangar.", "items": [ { "id": 444315, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139606, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00006.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00006.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Khing Klangboonkrong, a Brown graduate student, covers EXCITE with single-sided aluminized Mylar. The material reflects sunlight to keep the telescope from getting too hot when it reaches 130,000 feet. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: A woman works on a telescope in a hangar. \r\rImage description: A woman in a navy T-shirt, white baseball cap, and purple gloves places shiny foil-like material on a large telescope. The image is framed so she’s only visible from the waist up. The telescope partially obscures the arm closest to the camera. The telescope is a shiny silver cylinder that has wires and other electrical equipment attached. It’s inside a large white hangar.", "width": 6405, "height": 4270, "pixels": 27349350 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376635, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376635", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Helson and Rehm play catch during a break in Fort Sumner. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\r
Alt text: Two men play catch in an arid landscape. \r
\r
Image description: Two men play catch in an arid landscape. The closest man is on the left side of the image, standing in the shadow of a building out of frame. He’s wearing khaki shorts, a black T-shirt, and has a baseball glove on his left hand. Further away, on the right side of the image, is a man in jeans, a gray T-shirt, and an orange baseball cap. He’s standing on one foot, having just thrown a baseball, which hovers between the two men. They’re standing on a large concrete pad. In the distance, the landscape is green and brown, with darker dots of green along the horizon. The sky is blue and clouds are visible near the horizon. ", "items": [ { "id": 444317, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139612, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00004.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00004.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Helson and Rehm play catch during a break in Fort Sumner. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: Two men play catch in an arid landscape. \r\rImage description: Two men play catch in an arid landscape. The closest man is on the left side of the image, standing in the shadow of a building out of frame. He’s wearing khaki shorts, a black T-shirt, and has a baseball glove on his left hand. Further away, on the right side of the image, is a man in jeans, a gray T-shirt, and an orange baseball cap. He’s standing on one foot, having just thrown a baseball, which hovers between the two men. They’re standing on a large concrete pad. In the distance, the landscape is green and brown, with darker dots of green along the horizon. The sky is blue and clouds are visible near the horizon. ", "width": 6603, "height": 4402, "pixels": 29066406 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376636, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376636", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "A vehicle called Big Bill picks up EXCITE so facility personnel can attach crash pads, ballast, and antennas. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: A vehicle hoists a telescope in front of a hangar. \r
\r
Image description: A large white vehicle with two enormous front tires uses a long arm to lift a shiny silver telescope. The vehicle is on the right side of the image. A man in a reflective vest and a hard hat stands on the right side of the tire. On the side of the vehicle, the word “Bill” is visible. The arm extends along and in front of the vehicle. It holds the telescope at the end of a cable. The telescope has a conical top, with the left side cut open. The base is rhombus-shaped. Rectangular panels are attached to the bottom of the telescope on the left side. Four cardboard squares are attached to the four corners of the base. Behind the telescope is a large white hangar. The camera is placed so it’s looking up at the scene, with the Sun peeking out from behind the hangar.", "items": [ { "id": 444325, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139618, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Compatibility_Test-3.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Compatibility_Test-3.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A vehicle called Big Bill picks up EXCITE so facility personnel can attach crash pads, ballast, and antennas. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: A vehicle hoists a telescope in front of a hangar. \r\rImage description: A large white vehicle with two enormous front tires uses a long arm to lift a shiny silver telescope. The vehicle is on the right side of the image. A man in a reflective vest and a hard hat stands on the right side of the tire. On the side of the vehicle, the word “Bill” is visible. The arm extends along and in front of the vehicle. It holds the telescope at the end of a cable. The telescope has a conical top, with the left side cut open. The base is rhombus-shaped. Rectangular panels are attached to the bottom of the telescope on the left side. Four cardboard squares are attached to the four corners of the base. Behind the telescope is a large white hangar. The camera is placed so it’s looking up at the scene, with the Sun peeking out from behind the hangar.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376637, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376637", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Away from the hangar, engineers run a test called compatibility to ensure EXCITE can communicate with the tower at the Fort Sumner airport during flight.\r
\t\r
Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\r
Alt text: Figures in safety gear stand around a vehicle hoisting a telescope. \r
\r
Image description: A large white vehicle with two enormous front tires uses a long arm to lift a shiny silver telescope. The arm extends along and in front of the vehicle. The top of the telescope is conical, with a section cut out for a cylinder. The body is rhombus-shaped and has two shiny rectangular panels attached to the bottom that extend slightly in front of the telescope. A half circle of orange cones outlines a safety perimeter under the telescope and in front of the vehicle. A group of eight people in reflective vests and hard hats cluster in front of the vehicle. They’re all standing on a large concrete pad. The sky in the background is clear and blue.", "items": [ { "id": 444326, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139614, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00011.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00011.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Away from the hangar, engineers run a test called compatibility to ensure EXCITE can communicate with the tower at the Fort Sumner airport during flight.\r\t\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: Figures in safety gear stand around a vehicle hoisting a telescope. \r\rImage description: A large white vehicle with two enormous front tires uses a long arm to lift a shiny silver telescope. The arm extends along and in front of the vehicle. The top of the telescope is conical, with a section cut out for a cylinder. The body is rhombus-shaped and has two shiny rectangular panels attached to the bottom that extend slightly in front of the telescope. A half circle of orange cones outlines a safety perimeter under the telescope and in front of the vehicle. A group of eight people in reflective vests and hard hats cluster in front of the vehicle. They’re all standing on a large concrete pad. The sky in the background is clear and blue.", "width": 6581, "height": 4387, "pixels": 28870847 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376638, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376638", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Garrison Breeding and Peter Calhoun, Peraton, Inc. members of the balloon facility team, smile for the camera during EXCITE’s compatability test. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\t\r
Alt text: Two men stand on the platform of a large vehicle. \r
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Image description: Two men in hard hats and yellow-and-orange reflective vests stand on a metal platform surrounded by metal bars. The man on the left points at the camera and has his other arm around the shoulder of the other man. The platform sits above the spoke attaching two enormous wheels of a large vehicle. Part of one wheel is visible on the left side of the image. A large metal arm extends across the middle of the platform and out of frame. The sky in the background is clear and blue. ", "items": [ { "id": 444330, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139610, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Compatibility_2-6.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Compatibility_2-6.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Garrison Breeding and Peter Calhoun, Peraton, Inc. members of the balloon facility team, smile for the camera during EXCITE’s compatability test. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\t\rAlt text: Two men stand on the platform of a large vehicle. \r\rImage description: Two men in hard hats and yellow-and-orange reflective vests stand on a metal platform surrounded by metal bars. The man on the left points at the camera and has his other arm around the shoulder of the other man. The platform sits above the spoke attaching two enormous wheels of a large vehicle. Part of one wheel is visible on the left side of the image. A large metal arm extends across the middle of the platform and out of frame. The sky in the background is clear and blue. ", "width": 5464, "height": 8192, "pixels": 44761088 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376639, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376639", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "EXCITE dangles a few inches off the ground during a series of tests called night pointings to help calibrate the telescope ahead of flights. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
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Alt text: A telescope dangles from the ceiling of a hangar at night. \r
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Image description: At night, a large shiny silver telescope dangles from the ceiling of a large white hanger. It’s framed by the hangar’s doors. The hangar is lit within by a dim red light, and white and green lights on the telescope stand out in the gloom. A line of orange cones stretches in front of the open hangar doors. The top of the telescope is conical, with a section cut out for a cylinder. The body is rhombus-shaped and has two shiny rectangular panels attached to the bottom that extend slightly in front of the telescope.", "items": [ { "id": 444335, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139617, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00009.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00009.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "EXCITE dangles a few inches off the ground during a series of tests called night pointings to help calibrate the telescope ahead of flights. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: A telescope dangles from the ceiling of a hangar at night. \r\rImage description: At night, a large shiny silver telescope dangles from the ceiling of a large white hanger. It’s framed by the hangar’s doors. The hangar is lit within by a dim red light, and white and green lights on the telescope stand out in the gloom. A line of orange cones stretches in front of the open hangar doors. The top of the telescope is conical, with a section cut out for a cylinder. The body is rhombus-shaped and has two shiny rectangular panels attached to the bottom that extend slightly in front of the telescope.", "width": 6091, "height": 4061, "pixels": 24735551 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376640, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376640", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Rehm, Klangboonkrong, and StarSpec Technology’s Javier Romualdez look at the readout from EXCITE during a night pointing exercise. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
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Alt text: Three people look at a computer screen in a dark room. \r
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Image description: Three people look at a computer screen in a dark room. A seated man on the left side of the image wears a dark T-shirt and a reflective vest. He’s poised to write something down in a notebook. Behind him and to his right stands a second man in a dark shirt and khaki pants. His arms are crossed. To their right is a seated woman in a light blue T-shirt. Her left hand covers her mouth, and her right hand is on the computer’s mouse.", "items": [ { "id": 444336, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139609, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00010.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Preparation00010.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Rehm, Klangboonkrong, and StarSpec Technology’s Javier Romualdez look at the readout from EXCITE during a night pointing exercise. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: Three people look at a computer screen in a dark room. \r\rImage description: Three people look at a computer screen in a dark room. A seated man on the left side of the image wears a dark T-shirt and a reflective vest. He’s poised to write something down in a notebook. Behind him and to his right stands a second man in a dark shirt and khaki pants. His arms are crossed. To their right is a seated woman in a light blue T-shirt. Her left hand covers her mouth, and her right hand is on the computer’s mouse.", "width": 6422, "height": 4281, "pixels": 27492582 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376641, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/#media_group_376641", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "During one night pointing exercise, EXCITE locked on to Beta Herculis, the brightest star in the constellation Hercules. The image on the left is out of focus. The image on the right is in focus.\r
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Credit: NASA/EXCITE team\r
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Alt text: Two snapshots of a star in infrared light. The left is out of focus, and the left is in focus. \r
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Image description: This image shows two snapshots of the same star. The snapshot on the left shows a large, blurry, orange, donut-shaped object in a black square. The square is in a white grid space with four rows. The snapshot on the right shows a much smaller orange dot on the right side of a black square. It’s also embedded in a grid space, but with five rows.", "items": [ { "id": 444337, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139604, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014725/BetaHerc.jpg", "filename": "BetaHerc.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "During one night pointing exercise, EXCITE locked on to Beta Herculis, the brightest star in the constellation Hercules. The image on the left is out of focus. The image on the right is in focus.\r\rCredit: NASA/EXCITE team\r\rAlt text: Two snapshots of a star in infrared light. The left is out of focus, and the left is in focus. \r\rImage description: This image shows two snapshots of the same star. The snapshot on the left shows a large, blurry, orange, donut-shaped object in a black square. The square is in a white grid space with four rows. The snapshot on the right shows a much smaller orange dot on the right side of a black square. It’s also embedded in a grid space, but with five rows.", "width": 1037, "height": 374, "pixels": 387838 } } ], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "ESE" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Photographer", "people": [ { "name": "Sophia Roberts", "employer": "Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc." }, { "name": "Jeanette Kazmierczak", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] }, { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Jeanette Kazmierczak", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] } ], "missions": [], "series": [ "Astrophysics Stills" ], "tapes": [], "papers": [], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Ast", "Astrophysics", "Balloon", "Exoplanet", "Scientific Instruments", "Space", "Universe" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 14650, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14650/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "EXCITE 2024: Infrared Detector and Spectrometer", "description": "EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) is designed to study atmospheres around exoplanets, or worlds beyond our solar system, during long-duration scientific balloon trips over Antarctica.These images, taken in July 2024, show Peter Nagler and Nat DeNigris preparing EXCITE’s infrared detector and installing it into the mission’s spectrometer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. At the time, the EXCITE team was gearing up for a test flight in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. || ", "release_date": "2024-11-25T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2024-11-25T15:50:32.639947-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1139699, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014650/EXCITE_Detector-15_print.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Detector-15_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) infrared detector, shown here, is a flight candidate from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRSpec (Near InfraRed Spectrograph) instrument. Engineers mounted it to a copper base ahead of installing into to the mission’s spectrometer assembly. The detector allows EXCITE to collect spectroscopic measurements from 1 to 4 microns — the near-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: EXCITE’s infrared detector on a lab bench\rImage description: A blue-gloved hand rests on a tabletop. One finger is placed on the copper base of an infrared detector. The detector is a purple square set within two silver triangles. A rectangular brown circuit board runs along the top. In the background are yellow- and red-handled screwdrivers and a black-and-white fan, all out of focus.", "width": 1024, "height": 683, "pixels": 699392 } }, { "id": 14726, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "EXCITE 2024: Launch and Recovery", "description": "On August 31, 2024, the EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) team conducted a test flight of their telescope from NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.EXCITE's goal is to study atmospheres around hot Jupiters, gas giant exoplanets that complete an orbit once every one to two days and have temperatures in the thousands of degrees.The telescope is designed fly to about 132,000 feet (40 kilometers) via a scientific balloon filled with helium. That takes it above 99.5% of Earth’s atmosphere. At that altitude, it can observe multiple infrared wavelengths with little interference. In the future, EXCITE could take observations over both the north and south poles, although flights over Antarctica allow for longer-duration flights at a latitude optimum for observing planets for their entire orbit. || ", "release_date": "2024-11-25T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2024-11-22T13:33:51.882802-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1139633, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/1-_EXCITE_Launch_searchweb.png", "filename": "1-_EXCITE_Launch_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) mission prepares for launch via a scientific balloon in this photograph taken on Aug. 31, 2024, at NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.\r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: A large vehicle hosts a telescope. \r\rImage description: A large vehicle stands in the center as dawn breaks over a desert landscape. The vehicle has a long arm extending forward. At the end of the arm dangles a shiny silver telescope. The top is conical, and various rectangular structures are attached to the bottoms and sides. The vehicle has lights along the arm that illuminate the telescope. There’s a truck parked to the vehicle’s left. In the distance, the sky is orange at the horizon, shading from purple to blue at the top of the image. There is a line of streaky clouds across the center.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }