Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Polar Bears and Caribou Guarding Telescope

Scientists wanting a glimpse of data on the universe’s earliest stars and galaxies from a telescope first had to deal with caribou and polar bears at the landing site in the Canadian Arctic.
“The secret of our universe’s beginnings was being protected by caribou and polar bears,” said John Kageorge, communications manager for engineering firm Amec.
“As it turns out, the scientists needed to go back with a rifle to protect themselves.”
The telescope, named BLAST for Balloon-Borne Large Aperture Submillimetre Telescope, was launched by a giant balloon in northern Sweden on June 11 and floated about 40 km in the upper atmosphere for four days before being dropped by parachute back to earth.

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