KSC-02pd0037

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The NICMOS II radiator is ready for checkout in the Vertical Processing Facility. The Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) Cooling System is part of the payload on mission STS-109, the Hubble Servicing Telescope mission. NICMOS is a new experimental cooling system consisting of a compressor and tiny turbines. With the experimental cryogenic system, NASA hopes to re-cool the infrared detectors to below -315 degrees F (-193 degrees Celsius). NICMOS II was previously tested aboard STS-95 in 1998. NICMOS could extend the life of the Hubble Space Telescope by several years. Astronauts aboard Columbia on mission STS-109 will be replacing the original NICMOS with the newer version. Launch of Columbia is scheduled Feb. 28, 2002