AbstractIRTS is a small cryogenically cooled telescope onboard the small space platform SFU (Space Flyer Unit). SFU will be launched with the new Japanese HII rocket on January 1994 and retrieved by the space shuttle.The IRTS telescope has an aperture of only 15 cm diameter, but is optimized to observe diffuse extended infrared sources. Four focal plane instruments are being developed under collaboration between Japan and the U.S.A. IRTS covers a wide wavelength range from near-infrared to submillimeter region, and has a capability for the spectroscopic measurement. Due to newly developed detectors, the sky will be surveyed with very high sensitivities. IRTS will provide valuable data on cosmology, galactic structure, cosmic dust, etc.
Infall in massive clumps harboring bright infrared sources
