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CNN Live Saturday

NASA Spacecraft to Probe the Origins of the Universe

Aired June 30, 2001 - 15:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: The universe 101. That is the mission of a NASA spacecraft schedule for launch a little later this hour, from Florida's Cape Canaveral. And we're looking at a live view of a launch pad right now. Allard Beutel looks at what NASA's latest observatory is hoping to accomplish.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLARD BEUTEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The big bang theory is still the prevailing scientific view of how the universe began: an instantaneous burst that eventually led to the formation of galaxies, stars and even people. Scientists say all that's left of the light and heat from the big bang 14 billion years ago or so is microwave radiation. The whole universe is bathed in this afterglow of the oldest light.

NASA says its latest spacecraft, called the Microwave Anisotropy Probe, or MAP, will record this light with unprecedented detail and accuracy.

ALAN KOGUT, NASA: If we look at the microwave background radiation, which was given off shortly after the big bang, we can get, in effect, get a baby picture of the universe.

BEUTEL: MAP will view the infant universe by measuring the tiny temperature differences within the microwave light. The spacecraft's telescopes will look for patterns in the radiation. NASA says those patterns will help scientists understand some of the deepest mysteries of the cosmos.

CHARLES BENNETT, MAP PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: These patterns result from tiny concentrations that were in the very early universe that were the seeds that grew to become the stars and the galaxies that we see today. The tiny patterns in the light hold the keys for understanding the history, the content, the shape and the ultimate fate of our universe.

BEUTEL: MAP will set up shop about a million miles from Earth. This location is where the gravity from the Earth and the Sun balance out. It allows the spacecraft to use very little fuel to maintain an orbit. This distance will also prevent microwave emissions from the Earth and Sun from interfering with the $145 million mission.

DAVID WILKINSON, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: The single most important thing that MAP will tell us is, are we on the right tack in our theories about the early universe.

BEUTEL: NASA says it will take about 18 months for MAP to complete its mission. By then, scientists should have a better idea of whether their theories of the universe are correct, or whether they need to start working on new theories.

Allard Beutel, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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