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.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376642, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376642", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "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
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Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
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Alt text: A large vehicle hosts a telescope. \r
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Image 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.", "items": [ { "id": 444349, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139624, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/1-_EXCITE_Launch.jpg", "filename": "1-_EXCITE_Launch.jpg", "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": 8192, "height": 4765, "pixels": 39034880 } }, { "id": 444388, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "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 } }, { "id": 444389, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139634, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/1-_EXCITE_Launch_thm.png", "filename": "1-_EXCITE_Launch_thm.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": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376643, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376643", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The EXCITE team stands in front of the telescope the morning of launch. From left to right: Lee Bernard (Arizona State University), Annalies Kleyheeg (Brown University), Greg Tucker (Brown University), Steve Maher (Science Systems and Applications, Inc./NASA), Peter Nagler (NASA), Tim Rehm (Brown University), Khing Klangboonkrong, Kyle Helson (University of Maryland, Baltimore County/NASA), and Javier Romualdez (StarSpec Technology).\r
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Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
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Alt text: A group of people stand in front of a large vehicle carrying a telescope.\r
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Image description: Nine people in reflective vests and hard hats stand in front of a large vehicle carrying a shiny silver telescope. The group has five on the left and four on the right, so the bottom part of the telescope is visible between them. The telescope has a conical top, with a section cut out for a cylinder, which is the telescope tube. The body is boxy and has rectangular panels attached to the bottom. The vehicle holding it has a long arm that extends forward. The sky in the background is dark.", "items": [ { "id": 444352, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139631, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/2_-_EXCITE_Team.jpg", "filename": "2_-_EXCITE_Team.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The EXCITE team stands in front of the telescope the morning of launch. From left to right: Lee Bernard (Arizona State University), Annalies Kleyheeg (Brown University), Greg Tucker (Brown University), Steve Maher (Science Systems and Applications, Inc./NASA), Peter Nagler (NASA), Tim Rehm (Brown University), Khing Klangboonkrong, Kyle Helson (University of Maryland, Baltimore County/NASA), and Javier Romualdez (StarSpec Technology).\r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: A group of people stand in front of a large vehicle carrying a telescope.\r\rImage description: Nine people in reflective vests and hard hats stand in front of a large vehicle carrying a shiny silver telescope. The group has five on the left and four on the right, so the bottom part of the telescope is visible between them. The telescope has a conical top, with a section cut out for a cylinder, which is the telescope tube. The body is boxy and has rectangular panels attached to the bottom. The vehicle holding it has a long arm that extends forward. The sky in the background is dark.", "width": 5720, "height": 3813, "pixels": 21810360 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376644, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376644", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Big Bill, shown here carrying EXCITE, is a special vehicle designed to launch scientific balloons. \r
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Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
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Alt text: A large vehicle hoists a telescope.\r
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Image description: Under a dark sky, 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, toward the left of the image. The words “Big Bill” are written along the side of the vehicle, under a cab for the driver. 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. Two people in hard hats stand near the telescope, and another stands further away, on the left side of the image. A large white hanger with red letters spelling “NASA” on the side is in the background.", "items": [ { "id": 444361, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139629, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/3_-_EXCITE_loaded_on_Big_Bill.jpg", "filename": "3_-_EXCITE_loaded_on_Big_Bill.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Big Bill, shown here carrying EXCITE, is a special vehicle designed to launch scientific balloons. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: A large vehicle hoists a telescope.\r\rImage description: Under a dark sky, 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, toward the left of the image. The words “Big Bill” are written along the side of the vehicle, under a cab for the driver. 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. Two people in hard hats stand near the telescope, and another stands further away, on the left side of the image. A large white hanger with red letters spelling “NASA” on the side is in the background.", "width": 8192, "height": 5464, "pixels": 44761088 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376645, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376645", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Once Big Bill is in position, the CSBF team rolls out a drop cloth for the scientific balloon to protect it from damage — the balloon material is about as thick as the material of a sandwich bag. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
\r
Alt text: A large vehicle hoists a telescope.\r
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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 long white drop cloth extends from behind the vehicle into the distance. People in reflective vests and hard hats stand along the length of the cloth. The dawn sky is just beginning to brighten.", "items": [ { "id": 444362, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139628, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/4_-_EXCITE_on_Flight_Line.jpg", "filename": "4_-_EXCITE_on_Flight_Line.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Once Big Bill is in position, the CSBF team rolls out a drop cloth for the scientific balloon to protect it from damage — the balloon material is about as thick as the material of a sandwich bag. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: A large vehicle hoists 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 long white drop cloth extends from behind the vehicle into the distance. People in reflective vests and hard hats stand along the length of the cloth. The dawn sky is just beginning to brighten.", "width": 6620, "height": 4413, "pixels": 29214060 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376646, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376646", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Klangboonkrong, Romualdez, and Rehm look on as the CSBF team fill’s EXCITE’s 39-million-cubic-foot scientific balloon with helium, which took about an hour.\r
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Credit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r
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Alt text: Three people wait while a scientific balloon inflates in the background.\r
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Image description: Two men in reflective vests stand and watch a large balloon inflating in the distance. The man on the right wears a baseball cap and turns to look at the other man. The balloon is framed in between them. To their right, a woman in glasses and a reflective vest sits with her legs crossed on the ground. She’s looking up at the men. The sky is golden, with a thin layer of clouds near the top of the image.", "items": [ { "id": 444368, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139626, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/5_-_EXCITE_Balloon_Inflates.jpg", "filename": "5_-_EXCITE_Balloon_Inflates.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Klangboonkrong, Romualdez, and Rehm look on as the CSBF team fill’s EXCITE’s 39-million-cubic-foot scientific balloon with helium, which took about an hour.\r\rCredit: NASA/Jeanette Kazmierczak\r\rAlt text: Three people wait while a scientific balloon inflates in the background.\r\rImage description: Two men in reflective vests stand and watch a large balloon inflating in the distance. The man on the right wears a baseball cap and turns to look at the other man. The balloon is framed in between them. To their right, a woman in glasses and a reflective vest sits with her legs crossed on the ground. She’s looking up at the men. The sky is golden, with a thin layer of clouds near the top of the image.", "width": 6297, "height": 4198, "pixels": 26434806 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376647, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376647", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Watch the launch of the scientific balloon carrying EXCITE.\r
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Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts \r
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Video description: A large balloon lifts from the ground with a loud rippling noise. The camera follows it as it launches into a partly cloudy sky just after dawn. The video then cuts to a large vehicle reversing to release a shiny silver telescope at the other end of the balloon’s long cable. The video cuts to another shot of the balloon and telescope rising into the sky. An unseen crowd claps and cheers.", "items": [ { "id": 444390, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139635, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/EXCITE_Launch_Vertical_Video.00090_print.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Vertical_Video.00090_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch the launch of the scientific balloon carrying EXCITE.\r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts \r\rVideo description: A large balloon lifts from the ground with a loud rippling noise. The camera follows it as it launches into a partly cloudy sky just after dawn. The video then cuts to a large vehicle reversing to release a shiny silver telescope at the other end of the balloon’s long cable. The video cuts to another shot of the balloon and telescope rising into the sky. An unseen crowd claps and cheers.", "width": 1024, "height": 1820, "pixels": 1863680 } }, { "id": 444387, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139622, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/EXCITE_Launch_Vertical_Video.mp4", "filename": "EXCITE_Launch_Vertical_Video.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch the launch of the scientific balloon carrying EXCITE.\r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts \r\rVideo description: A large balloon lifts from the ground with a loud rippling noise. The camera follows it as it launches into a partly cloudy sky just after dawn. The video then cuts to a large vehicle reversing to release a shiny silver telescope at the other end of the balloon’s long cable. The video cuts to another shot of the balloon and telescope rising into the sky. An unseen crowd claps and cheers.", "width": 1080, "height": 1920, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376648, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376648", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "After launch, the EXCITE team monitored and operated the telescope from the ground. Klangboonkrong faces the camera. Facing away, from left to right, are Rehm, Romualdez, and Maher.\r
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Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
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Alt text: Four people sit in front of computers in the corner of a hangar. \r
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Image description: Three people sit at a collection of tables in the corner of a hangar, looking at computer screens. In the background, three men in blue shirts sit at a table along a wall. Their backs are to the camera. A woman in a blue shirt faces the camera and sits at another table. She has a notebook in front of her. The tables are cluttered with snacks, equipment, safety gear, sloth plushies, and other odds and ends.", "items": [ { "id": 444381, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139630, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/6_-_EXCITE_Team_After_Launch.jpg", "filename": "6_-_EXCITE_Team_After_Launch.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "After launch, the EXCITE team monitored and operated the telescope from the ground. Klangboonkrong faces the camera. Facing away, from left to right, are Rehm, Romualdez, and Maher.\r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Four people sit in front of computers in the corner of a hangar. \r\rImage description: Three people sit at a collection of tables in the corner of a hangar, looking at computer screens. In the background, three men in blue shirts sit at a table along a wall. Their backs are to the camera. A woman in a blue shirt faces the camera and sits at another table. She has a notebook in front of her. The tables are cluttered with snacks, equipment, safety gear, sloth plushies, and other odds and ends.", "width": 7981, "height": 4946, "pixels": 39474026 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376649, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376649", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "EXCITE landed safely by parachute south of Holbrook, Arizona, on the side of a steep. hill.\r
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Credit: NASA/Kyle Helson\r
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Alt text: A telescope lists to the right on the side of steep hill.\r
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Image description: A shiny silver telescope lists to the right on the side of a steep hill. The telescope is centered in the image and is surrounded by short shrubby trees interspersed with patches of brown earth. In the distance, more hills and valleys are visible.", "items": [ { "id": 444382, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139627, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/7_-_EXCITE_Lands.jpg", "filename": "7_-_EXCITE_Lands.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "EXCITE landed safely by parachute south of Holbrook, Arizona, on the side of a steep. hill.\r\rCredit: NASA/Kyle Helson\r\rAlt text: A telescope lists to the right on the side of steep hill.\r\rImage description: A shiny silver telescope lists to the right on the side of a steep hill. The telescope is centered in the image and is surrounded by short shrubby trees interspersed with patches of brown earth. In the distance, more hills and valleys are visible.", "width": 7952, "height": 5304, "pixels": 42177408 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376650, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376650", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The balloon facility's Daniel Seegmiller and Tyler Barnard helped protect the telescope with a tarp while the team waited for a helicopter to remove it from its landing spot. \r
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Credit: NASA/Kyle Helson\r
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Alt text: Two men examine a large telescope.\r
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Image description: Two men examine a large shiny silver telescope. The telescope is listing slightly to the left on the side of a steep hill. It has a slightly oblong rhombus shape. The men stand to the right of the telescope. The man on the left wears jeans, a long-sleeved black shirt and a black baseball cap. He has his hands on his hips. The man on the right wears jeans, a green T-shirt and a blue baseball cap. He points at the telescope. The landscape is full of small, shrub-like bushes and trees interspersed with patches of brown dirt. The background reveals the telescope is in a valley, with a partly cloudy sky peaking over the top of the line of the hill.", "items": [ { "id": 444383, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139625, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/8_-_EXCITE_Recovery.jpg", "filename": "8_-_EXCITE_Recovery.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The balloon facility's Daniel Seegmiller and Tyler Barnard helped protect the telescope with a tarp while the team waited for a helicopter to remove it from its landing spot. \r\rCredit: NASA/Kyle Helson\r\rAlt text: Two men examine a large telescope.\r\rImage description: Two men examine a large shiny silver telescope. The telescope is listing slightly to the left on the side of a steep hill. It has a slightly oblong rhombus shape. The men stand to the right of the telescope. The man on the left wears jeans, a long-sleeved black shirt and a black baseball cap. He has his hands on his hips. The man on the right wears jeans, a green T-shirt and a blue baseball cap. He points at the telescope. The landscape is full of small, shrub-like bushes and trees interspersed with patches of brown dirt. The background reveals the telescope is in a valley, with a partly cloudy sky peaking over the top of the line of the hill.", "width": 7952, "height": 5304, "pixels": 42177408 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376651, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376651", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Watch a helicopter carry EXCITE out of a remote area after a scientific balloon flight. \r
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Credit: NASA/Daniel Seegmiller\r
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Video description: This video shows a landscape dominated by scrubby vegetation with a few tall pine trees. A helicopter is audible, but not visible for the first second. Then the camera zooms in to show it. It’s white and carries a telescope at the end of a long cable.", "items": [ { "id": 444391, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139636, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/EXCITE_Helicopter_Recovery.00300_print.jpg", "filename": "EXCITE_Helicopter_Recovery.00300_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch a helicopter carry EXCITE out of a remote area after a scientific balloon flight. \r\rCredit: NASA/Daniel Seegmiller\r\rVideo description: This video shows a landscape dominated by scrubby vegetation with a few tall pine trees. A helicopter is audible, but not visible for the first second. Then the camera zooms in to show it. It’s white and carries a telescope at the end of a long cable.", "width": 1024, "height": 1820, "pixels": 1863680 } }, { "id": 444385, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139623, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/EXCITE_Helicopter_Recovery.mp4", "filename": "EXCITE_Helicopter_Recovery.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch a helicopter carry EXCITE out of a remote area after a scientific balloon flight. \r\rCredit: NASA/Daniel Seegmiller\r\rVideo description: This video shows a landscape dominated by scrubby vegetation with a few tall pine trees. A helicopter is audible, but not visible for the first second. Then the camera zooms in to show it. It’s white and carries a telescope at the end of a long cable.", "width": 540, "height": 960, "pixels": 518400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376653, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14726/#media_group_376653", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This image shows the curvature of the Earth from 130,000 feet. It was taken remotely by a camera on EXCITE. The red blob at the top of the frame is the parachute. \r
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Credit: NASA/Kyle Helson\r
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Alt text: A glimpse of the curvature of the Earth from EXCITE. \r
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Image description: In this photograph, Earth’s curvature dominates the frame. It’s on the right side, and the sky is streaked with blue clouds. The black of space is on the left. The camera sits in between two shiny silver structures visible in the foreground. The top one on the left is boxy. The one on the bottom is a mostly flat surface. A red blob appears at the top of the image.", "items": [ { "id": 444386, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139632, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014726/EXCITEs_View_from_Space.jpg", "filename": "EXCITEs_View_from_Space.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This image shows the curvature of the Earth from 130,000 feet. It was taken remotely by a camera on EXCITE. The red blob at the top of the frame is the parachute. \r\rCredit: NASA/Kyle Helson\r\rAlt text: A glimpse of the curvature of the Earth from EXCITE. \r\rImage description: In this photograph, Earth’s curvature dominates the frame. It’s on the right side, and the sky is streaked with blue clouds. The black of space is on the left. The camera sits in between two shiny silver structures visible in the foreground. The top one on the left is boxy. The one on the bottom is a mostly flat surface. A red blob appears at the top of the image.", "width": 1600, "height": 900, "pixels": 1440000 } } ], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "PAO" ], "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": 14725, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14725/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "EXCITE 2024: Payload Prep", "description": "In August 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 Arctic and Antarctic, with the latter offering longer duration flights optimum for observing planets for their entire orbit. || ", "release_date": "2024-11-25T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2024-11-22T13:04:05.232318-05:00", "main_image": { "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": 14727, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14727/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Fort Sumner, New Mexico: 2024 Drone Views", "description": "This clip contains various shots of the NASA payload processing facility at Fort Sumner as well as general views of the surrounding area, acquired Aug. 23, 2024. Credit: NASA/Francis ReddyVideo playback is at half speed (30 fps). 0:00 A slow, early morning approach to the staging facility as its doors open, revealing the EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) payload. 0:45 The camera descends, with the rising sun moving behind the staging facility. 0:58 A closer, lower approach to the EXCITE payload. 1:10 A higher, more distant arc that starts by showing the low sun and the NASA sign on the staging facility, moving north. 1:41 A slow ascent looking toward EXCITE and the morning sun. 1:28 Hovering as the doors close on EXCITE. 03:20 Overview flying back across the airport revealing various vehicles and structures. 4:41 Similar, but at higher altitude and flying in a different direction. || Drone_Shots_of_EXCITE_at_Balloon_Launch_Facility.00001_print.jpg (1024x576) [139.0 KB] || Drone_Shots_of_EXCITE_at_Balloon_Launch_Facility.webm (3840x2160) [67.5 MB] || Drone_Shots_of_EXCITE_at_Balloon_Launch_Facility.mp4 (3840x2160) [2.9 GB] || Drone_Shots_of_EXCITE_at_Balloon_Launch_Facility_ProRes.mov (3840x2160) [22.1 GB] || ", "release_date": "2024-01-22T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-01-21T17:51:41.932725-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1140558, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014727/Drone_-_HASP_2.0_Balloon_Launch.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "Drone_-_HASP_2.0_Balloon_Launch.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Drone imagery showing the launch of HASP 2.0 from Fort Sumner on Aug. 28, 2024. Credit: NASA/Francis ReddyVideo playback is at half speed (30 fps). At 0:11, the inflated balloon rises vertically, gradually reaching its full height by 1:49. The camera turns to keep it centered in the frame as the launch vehicle holding the payload maneuvers. 2:14 The launch collar, a device that holds the balloon film together following its initial release, slowly tumbles to earth. 2:38 The payload is launched, the balloon climbs into a blue sky peppered with a few clouds, and the camera rises, tilts, and rotates to follow it. ", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }