{"id":168192,"date":"2017-06-07T15:16:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-07T19:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-402946"},"modified":"2023-07-26T14:55:49","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T18:55:49","slug":"making-the-invisible-visible","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/making-the-invisible-visible\/","title":{"rendered":"Making the Invisible Visible: A History of the Spitzer Infrared Telescope Facility (1971\u20132003)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\"><div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>NASA History<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\"><nav><ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\"><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/explore-nasas-history\/\">Explore NASA’s History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-office\/\">NASA History Office<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Publications and Resources<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/\">NASA History Series<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/news-and-notes\/\">News and Notes<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/aeronautics-and-space-report-of-the-president\/\">Aeronautics and Space Report of the President<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/oral-histories\/\">Oral Histories<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/other-research-resources\/\">Research Resources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/archives\/\">NASA Archives<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"padding-0 bg-spacesuit-white wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-page-intro hds-page-intro-banner width-full maxw-full padding-0 hds-cover-wrapper minh-tablet\">\n\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto margin-bottom-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-top-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"page-heading-md line-height-sm color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaking the Invisible Visible\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tA History of the Spitzer Infrared Telescope Facility (1971\u20132003)\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Located about 440 light-years from Earth, Zeta Ophiuchi is a hot star that is 20 times more massive than the Sun.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.3); transform-origin: 26% 43%; object-position: 26% 43%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg 3600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=300,272 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=768,696 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=1024,928 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=1536,1391 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=2048,1855 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=400,362 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=600,544 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=900,815 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=1200,1087 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zetaoph.jpeg?resize=2000,1812 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>By Renee M. Rottner<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the early 1970s, there was a small group of advocates for an infrared space telescope; however, the field of infrared astronomy was only a few years old, and no one had ever built a space-based observatory of the required complexity. Considering the technical, political, scientific, and economic uncertainties, it was not obvious that a project like SIRTF could\u2014or should\u2014be dared by NASA. How did SIRTF manage to overcome these uncertainties? This monograph makes visible the invisible forces that influenced the design of SIRTF\u2019s innovative technology. The lessons learned by the project team over the course of building SIRTF, now better known as the Spitzer Space Telescope, are about managing innovation over time and in the face of uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NASA-SP-4547<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-link-list bg-spacesuit-white padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link-list\">\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\tDownload the e-Books\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Front cover for the book Making the Invisible Visible\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Fixed Layout<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black\">PDF format (5 MB)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/making-the-invisible-visible-tagged.pdf?emrc=c7bf44\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\">\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Front cover for the book Making the Invisible Visible\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">e-Book Readers<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black\">EPUB format (7 MB)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/making-the-invisible-visible-rottner.epub?emrc=f36b70\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\">\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-card-grid padding-top-7 padding-bottom-3 padding-x-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-card-grid\">\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-card-grid-header grid-container grid-container-block\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-start margin-bottom-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"section-heading-sm line-height-sm\">More History Publications<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"margin-0 padding-0\">Explore more titles in NASA's History Series.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col display-flex flex-align-center desktop:flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary link-external-true\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1 \" >\n\t\t\t\tAll NASA History Publications                \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-card-grid-cards grid-container grid-container-block\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cards-included grid-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/not-yet-imagined-a-study-of-hubble-space-telescope-operations\/\" class=\"hds-card-topic hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content padding-3\"><h3 class=\"heading-29 hds-topic-card-heading color-spacesuit-white\"><span>Not Yet Imagined: A Study of Hubble Space Telescope Operations<\/span><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg?w=700\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg?resize=205,300 205w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg?resize=768,1124 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg?resize=700,1024 700w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg?resize=1050,1536 1050w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg?resize=273,400 273w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg?resize=410,600 410w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg?resize=615,900 615w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/not_yet_imagined_front_cover.jpg?resize=820,1200 820w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/a-history-of-near-earth-objects-research\/\" class=\"hds-card-topic hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content padding-3\"><h3 class=\"heading-29 hds-topic-card-heading color-spacesuit-white\"><span>A History of Near-Earth Objects Research<\/span><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"674\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?w=674\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg 1875w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=768,1167 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=674,1024 674w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=1011,1536 1011w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=1347,2048 1347w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=263,400 263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=395,600 395w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=592,900 592w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=789,1200 789w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/neo-front-cover.jpg?resize=1316,2000 1316w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 674px) 100vw, 674px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/science-advice-to-nasa-conflict-consensus-partnership-leadership\/\" class=\"hds-card-topic hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content padding-3\"><h3 class=\"heading-29 hds-topic-card-heading color-spacesuit-white\"><span>Science Advice to NASA: Conflict, Consensus, Partnership, Leadership<\/span><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"791\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?w=791\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg 1623w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=232,300 232w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=768,994 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=791,1024 791w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=1187,1536 1187w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=1583,2048 1583w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=309,400 309w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=464,600 464w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=696,900 696w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=927,1200 927w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/science_advice_cover-web.jpg?resize=1546,2000 1546w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/beyond-earth\/\" class=\"hds-card-topic hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content padding-3\"><h3 class=\"heading-29 hds-topic-card-heading color-spacesuit-white\"><span>Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration, 1958\u20132016<\/span><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"791\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?w=791\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg 1623w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=232,300 232w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=768,994 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=791,1024 791w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=1187,1536 1187w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=1583,2048 1583w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=309,400 309w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=464,600 464w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=696,900 696w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=927,1200 927w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/beyond_earth_ebook_cover.jpg?resize=1546,2000 1546w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Renee M. Rottner In the early 1970s, there was a small group of advocates for an infrared space telescope; however, the field of infrared astronomy was only a few years old, and no one had ever built a space-based observatory of the required complexity. Considering the technical, political, scientific, and economic uncertainties, it was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":213414,"parent":163226,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[11793,2671,2783],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[4962,11519,12369],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Making the Invisible Visible: A History of the Spitzer Infrared Telescope Facility (1971\u20132003)","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/making-the-invisible-visible\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/making-the-invisible-visible\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg"},"articleSection":"E-Books","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michele Ostovar"}],"creator":["Michele Ostovar"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Spitzer Space Telescope","E-Books","NASA History"],"dateCreated":"2017-06-07T19:16:00Z","datePublished":"2017-06-07T19:16:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T18:55:49Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Making the Invisible Visible: A History of the Spitzer Infrared Telescope Facility (1971\u20132003)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/history-publications-and-resources\/nasa-history-series\/making-the-invisible-visible\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2017-06-07T19:16:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"E-Books\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Spitzer Space Telescope,E-Books,NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Michele Ostovar\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":1,"time_ago":"7 years","featured_image":{"id":213414,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/spitzer-cover.jpg","title":"Making the Invisible Visible","alt":"Front cover for the book Making the Invisible Visible","caption":"Making the Invisible Visible: A History of the Spitzer Infrared Telescope Facility (1971\u20132003)"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/168192"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/168192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":388935,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/168192\/revisions\/388935"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/163226"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/213414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168192"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=168192"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=168192"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=168192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}