Testing and characterization activities continue for NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope warm mission, a process that began after the observatory's cryogen ran out on May 15.

After a series of tests, scientists and engineers determined the optimal combinations of voltage and temperature for the arrays in the infrared array camera — the instrument that still functions during Spitzer's warm mission. The combinations minimize artifacts in the images, while achieving the best performance in terms of stability and sensitivity.

All systems on the spacecraft are healthy and functioning normally, and the observatory continues to warm towards its equilibrium temperature.