The Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS), built by Ball Aerospace, has captured several breathtaking views. Functioning as Hubble’s “heat sensor,” NICMOS was designed to observe in the near-infrared spectral region.

Ball Aerospace built NICMOS as one of two second generation axial replacement instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope.

Since 1997, when it was installed during Hubble’s second servicing mission, NICMOS has made observations of newly forming stars and regions containing the farthest and faintest galaxies ever imaged.

NICMOS achieved all of its scientific objectives before depleting its cryogen. The instrument was revived during Servicing Mission 3B in 2002.