[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE HEAR FROM DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ON REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO CHANGE STATE ELECTION LAWS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW TITLE 1 SCHOOLS ARE SPENDING THEIR COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN THE CONTROVERSY AROUND FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN'S DOCTOR TITLE.

ALL OF THAT AND MORE ON THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

WE HAD ANOTHER DAY OF ENCOURAGING NUMBERS REGARDING NEW CASES OF COVID-19 IN ARIZONA.

CLOSE TO 2300 REPORTED CASES FOR THE DAY.

THAT DROPS OUR SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE TO THIRD HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES INCREASED TO FOURTH HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

THIS AS THE ASU BIODESIGN INSTITUTE HAS IDENTIFIED THE U.K.

VARIANT OF THE VIRUS IN ARIZONA.

>> CERTAINLY THE VARIANTS, THERE'S -- THE RISK THAT THEY COULD SPREAD QUICKLY.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY EXAMPLE OF THE OTHER TWO VARIANTS THAT ARE OF CONCERN RIGHT NOW, THE SOUTH AFRICAN, AND THE VARIANT FROM BRAZIL.

BOTH OF THOSE VARIANTS HAVE A MUTATION THAT MIGHT REDUCE THE EFFICACY OF THE VACCINE, ALTHOUGH HAS DR. FAUCI POINTS OUT, THE VACCINE STILL WORKS FOR THOSE VARIANTS, JUST NOT AS WELL.

>> TESTING FOR COVID-19 NOW INCLUDES A SECOND TESTING VAN LAUNCHED BY THE CITY OF PHOENIX.

THE MOBILE SITES INCLUDE WALK-UP REGISTRATION AND ANTIGEN TESTS ON SIGHT.

>>> THE NEW DRIVE-THRU VACCINATION SITE THAT OPENED MONDAY, WELL, IT IS ALREADY BOOKED THROUGH THE MONTH.

NO NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR FEBRUARY.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS IT IS NOT SURE WHEN NEW APPOINTMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

>>> AND WITH THAT IN MIND, GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY CALLED ON ARIZONA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO HELP SECURE MORE COVID-19 VACCINES FOR THE STATE.

HE WANTS THE DELEGATION TO, QUOTE, ENGAGE AT EVERY LEVEL TO HELP SECURE ADDITIONAL DOSES.

>>> GETTING MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED IS ONE OF THE KEYS TO CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, AND THE BEST WAY TO GET THINGS BACK TO NORMAL.

>> IF YOU CAN GET PEOPLE PROTECTED, AND GET AN UMBRELLA OF WHAT WE CALL HERD IMMUNITY, THE LEVEL OF INFECTION IS GOING TO GO VERY, VERY LOW DOWN IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN SOCIETY, AND AT THAT POINT, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY COULD START GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY REITERATED THAT HE AND CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS ARE MOVING AHEAD ON THEIR 1.9 IT WILL DOLLAR RELIEF BILL.

REPUBLICANS SAY THEY INTEND TO SEE JUST HOW COMMITTED DEMOCRATS ARE TO THE PLAN.

>> WE'LL BE GETTING SENATORS ON THE RECORD ABOUT WHETHER TAXPAYERS SHOULD FUND CHECKS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WHETHER DEMOCRATS SHOULD RAISE TAXES ON SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE MIDST OF THIS HISTORIC CRISIS, AND WHETHER GENEROUS FEDERAL FUNDING SHOULD POOR INTO SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE THE UNIONS REFUSE TO LET SCHOOLS OPEN.

>>> AND ARIZONA IS REMEMBERING ALBERT HAIL WHO DIED YESTERDAY OF COVID-19 AT AGE 70.

HE WAS THE SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAJO NATION, AND SERVED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE FOR OVER A DECADE.

>>> THE STATE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES ITS FOCUS ON CHANGING ARIZONA ELECTION LAWS, AND REMOVING BILLS THAT RESTRICT VOTER REGISTRATION.

>> THE ELECTION EXTREMISTS ARE WORKING OVERTIME TO MAKE VOTING MORE DIFFICULT.

SOME OF THESE LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO REHASH THE DEBUNK CLAIMS OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER GOINGS-ON AT THE STATE CAPITOL, WE SPOKE WITH SENATE MINORITY LEADER IN OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

SENATOR RIOS, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

THIS IDEA OF ELECTION LAW, VOTEDER REGISTRATION, THE FOCUS AT THE LEGISLATURE ON CHANGING THESE THINGS ASH, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, THEY ARE NEVER AT A LOSS FOR BAD IDEAS.

WE'RE SEEING THE FALLOUT FROM AN ELECTION THAT TRUMP LOST.

I MEAN, THE TYPES OF BILLS ARE INCREDIBLE.

WE HAVE A BILL GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR COUNTY RECORDERS TO HOLD VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES ANYWHERE BUT IN THEIR GOVERNMENT BUILDING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ACCOMPLISHES.

IN MANY CASES THEY GO TO THE FAIRGROUNDS.

THAT WOULD BE PROHAD BEEN BE ITTED.

THEY COULDN'T GO TO THE SENIOR SENATOR OF REC CENTER.

SO IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY.

A LOT OF COMMUNITY EFFORT GOES OUT INTO GOING INTO COMMUNITIES THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVEN'T VOTED REGULARLY, AND REGISTERING FOLKS TO VOTE AND EDUCATING THEM ON THE SYSTEM, AND THAT CLEARLY DOES NOT BENEFIT REPUBLICANS, SO I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING THAT BILL INTRODUCED.

>> REPRESENTATIVE LONG, WE HAVE A BILL IN THE HOUSE THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO OVERRIDE ELECTIONS.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> WE JUST HAD A FAIR AND FREE AND ACCURATE ELECTION.

NOTHING IN THAT PROCESS IS CALLED FOR OVERWHELMING REFORM.

THERE ARE JUST FOLKS THAT ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE RESULTS OF THE VOICE OF ARIZONA, SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT DISENFRANCHISE THE VOICE OF EVERY DAY ARIZONANS.

>> AND THEY SAY THIS IS A GOOD DEMOCRATIC CHECK AND BALANCE TO ALLOW THE LATETURE TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC'S VOTE AND SAY NO.

>> THAT WOULD BE SUGGESTING AFTER EACH OF US RUN OUR OWN FAIR AND ACCURATE RACE, THAT A SMALL HANDFUL OF PRECINCT COMMITTEE PEOPLE WOULD THEN DECIDE WHETHER WE HAD WON, OR WHO HAD WON.

THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

I THINK DEMOCRATS OVERALL HAVE REALLY INVESTED IN ENSURING THAT EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, AND MANY OF THE BILLS WE'RE SEEING ARE DISENFRANCHISING SENIOR CITIZENS, AGAIN, THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE BAD IDEAS WE'RE SEEING THIS SESSION.

>> AND SENATOR RIOS, WITH THAT IN MIND.

IT TARGETS THE EARLY PERMANENT VOTING LIST.

IF YOU DON'T VOTE IN TWO ELECTION VOTING CYCLES, YOU ARE OFF THE EARLY PERMANENT VOTING LIST, AND YOU ARE GETTING RID OF FOLKS WHO AREN'T VOTING ANYWAY.

YOUR RESPONSE?

>> WHO IS ASKING FOR THIS BILL?

IF YOU ASK COUNTY ELECTIONS DIRECTORS, THEY WILL POINT BANK TELL YOU, WE DON'T NEED THIS LEGISLATION.

THEY HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE TO CLEAN THE VOTER ROLLS OF FOLKS THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY OR MOVED.

SO, AGAIN, THIS IS A BILL SEEKING A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT EXIST, AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO END UP WITH ARE PERMANENT EARLY VOTING LISTS THAT ONLY HAVE THESE FAITHFUL PARTY VOTERS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE EVERY DAY ARIZONANS THEY DON'T LIVE AND BREATHE THIS STUFF LIKE WE DO, AND THERE MAY COME AN ELECTION WHERE MAYBE THEY DON'T LIKE WHO IS RUNNING.

THAT DOES NOT GIVE US THE RIGHT TO TAKE THEM OFF OF THE EARLY-VOTING LIST.

THAT IS A CHOICE THEY HAVE MADE, AND WE HAVE -- THIS SENATOR WANTING TO TAKE THEM OFF THAT EARLY-VOTING LIST.

THE EARLY VOTING LIST, YOU SIGN UP ONCE, AND IT ENABLES YOU TO GET YOUR BALLOT EVERY TIME.

SO, AGAIN, IN THE BIG PICTURE, JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION LOOKING AT DISENFRANCHISING, VOTERS, PAR -- TARGETING THE PARTY FAITHFUL, AND I CAN'T SAY THIS ENOUGH, THESE ARE THE SORE LOSE ERBILS THAT WE'RE SEEING COME AFTER A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND A U.S. SENATE ELECTION IN WHICH REPUBLICANS LOST.

>> AND LAST POINT ON THIS, ARE THERE FOLKS AT THE LEGISLATURE WHO TRULY BELIEVE THAT THERE THIS HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND.

>> SHOCKINGLY THAT IS THE CASE.

AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY IT CLEARLY.

ARIZONA EXPERIENCED A FREE, FAIR, AND ACCURATE ELECTION.

THERE IS NOTHING HERE THAT HAS BOURN OUT ANY REASON TO LOOK AT THE RESULTS.

>> ALL RIGHT, SENATOR RIOS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S IDEA TO EXPAND GAMING JUST IN GENERAL, TAKING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND GAMING, SPORTS BETTING IN PARTICULAR.

HOW BIG OF DEAL IS THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S A BIG DEAL.

NOW, REMEMBER, THESE ARE NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE LITERALLY BEEN IN PROCESS FOR FIVE YEARS.

THE GAMING COMPACTS ARE COMING UP, THE COMPACTS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN AGREED UPON WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL 20 YEARS TO THE CURRENT COMPACT.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING TO ADD IS SPORTS BETTING, FANTASY SPORTS BETTING.

KENO THAT CAN BE DONE OFF LOCATION.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SEE A BROOD EXPANSION OF GAMING.

20 YEARS AGO, THEY TALKED ABOUT, WE DON'T WANT PHOENIX TO BECOME VEGAS-STYLE GAMING.

WELL, GUESS WHAT IS COMING?

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CRAPS, AND ROULETTE -- I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO BE FULL-ON GAMING.

I UNDERSTAND BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND THE TRIBES ARE IN ARGUMENT.

SO THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO DECIDE, BUT ULTIMATELY WE'LL RETAIN REVENUE SHARING, BUT IT CONTINUES TO ALLOW THE TRIBES -- AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART -- TO BE SELF SUSTAINING AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES NEED, SO I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF INDIAN GAMING, AND I THINK THIS WILL CLEARLY PROVIDE MORE REVENUE FOR EVERYONE.

>> AND LAST POINT ON THIS, REPRESENTATIVE LONG, JUST IN GENERAL, THE FOLKS YOU SPEAK WITH DOWN THERE, IS THERE AN APPETITE FOR EXPANDED GAMING IN ARIZONA?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE IS, AND MORE REVENUE IS ALWAYS WELCOME, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE TO DO ADDITIONAL TAX CUTS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BE WELL FUNDED.

SO WHILE WE SEE THIS EXPANSION COMING, AND A LOT OF DETAILS WE DON'T KNOW YET, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE RESPECT OUR SOVEREIGN NATIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT THE PANDEMIC MAKES FOR BIG CHANGES TO THIS WEEK'S WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN.

>>> IT'S PRO-AM DAY AT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN.

IT WILL BE A VERY DIFFERENT EVENT THIS GO AROUND WITH THE PANDEMIC CONCERNS.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TOURNAMENT.

SCOTT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE PEOPLE'S OPEN, A LOT FEWER PEOPLE THIS YEAR, HUH?

>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT TOURNAMENT THAN IN NORMAL YEARS, BUT WE'RE EXCITED IT'S OPEN WEEK.

>> HOW MANY FANS ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE?

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS THAN 5,000 FANS A DAY.

KIND OF PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, LAST YEAR WHICH HAD 28 DIFFERENT VENUES ACROSS THE COURSE.

WE HAVE TWO THIS YEAR.

I'M AT ONE OF THEM, THE 16TH HOLE.

THE CLUB HOUSE IS ANOTHER VENUE, AND GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS AS WELL.

>> AND AS FAR AS PROTECTIONS.

>> WEAR A MASK, WASH YOUR HANDS AND WATCH YOUR DISTANCE.

WE'RE PROUD OF OUR ATMOSPHERE, BUT THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT.

IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT OBVIOUSLY SITUATION WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO MANDATORY MASKS EXCEPT WHEN YOU ARE ACTIVELY EATING AND DRINKING.

WE'RE UTILIZING OUR 182-ACRE GOLF COURSE AND REALLY SPREADING PEOPLE OUT, AND THE OTHER BENEFIT IS WASTE MANAGEMENT BEING OUR TITLE SPONSOR, THEY ARE IN THE SANITATION BUSINESS.

THEY HAVE GOT PRODUCTS THAT WE'LL BE CLEANING BATHROOMS ON A REGULAR BASIS, SO A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT HAS GONE INTO OUR PLACINGAL PLANS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE TOURNAMENT AS SAFE AS WE CAN.

>> THOSE BUSES SEEM LIKE THEY WOULD HAVE A CONCERN, THE SHUTTLES AS WELL.

HOW IS THAT DYNAMIC THERE?

>> WITH OUR ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR, WE'RE ABLE TO PARK EVERYBODY ACROSS THE STREET AT THE SCOTTSDALE SPORTS COMPLEX.

SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR BUSES THIS YEAR.

AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE SO CONVENIENT.

I HAVE HEARD OVER THE YEARS PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO COME OUT BECAUSE OF THE LINES OR PARKING SITUATION.

THIS IS YOUR OPEN.

THERE WON'T BE LINES.

THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF PARKING ACROSS THE STREET.

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE THE BEST FIELD WE HAVE POTENTIALLY EVER HAD, SO WE'RE EXCITED.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE FIELD.

THEY ARE ALL SHOWING UP THIS TIME.

ALMOST ALL OF THEM, AT LEAST.

>> YEAH, AND WE TAKE TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT WE'RE REALLY THE FIRST TOURNAMENT COMING BACK ON THE PGA TOUR WITH MEANINGFUL FANS.

WE LIKE TO THINK WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE HOST GROUP ON THE PGA TOUR, AND THE PLAYERS ARE ALSO -- THE FACT THAT THEY ARE SHOWING UP IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE, MAKES US FEEL GREAT.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN AS FAR AS THE TOURNAMENT SUPPORTED CHARITIES.

>> YEAH, LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE $14 MILLION FOR CHARITY.

AND THE GOOD PART IS WE'RE DISTRIBUTING THAT MONEY THIS YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'LL END UP, BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH NOT BUILDING 24 OTHER VENUES, WE DON'T HAVE THE COARSE PONDING COST OF THAT.

AND IT HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OUR BUSINESS TO SEE WHERE WE CAN MAKE CUTS AND DO THINGS BETTER, SO WE CAN BE IN A POSITION TO WRITE SOME CHECKS, YOU KNOW, IN THE SPRING.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, ARE THERE ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THESE CHARITIES?

>> YEAH, ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES WE PUT TOGETHER THIS YEAR.

IF YOU WATCHED ANY SPORTING EVENT, THEY HAVE THOSE CARDBOARD CUTOUTS, AND WE HAVE THAT IT'S CALLED THE FACES ON 14.

AND BASICALLY FOR 500 OR $250, YOU CAN PUT YOUR FACE ON 16.

THEY LOOK LIKE GIANT FAT HEADS, IF YOU HAVE SEEN THOSE -- >> SURE.

>> -- SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TV TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO PURCHASED THOSE.

>> YEAH, AND AGAIN, NO BIRD'S NEST THIS YEAR, RIGHT?

>> IT BREAKS MY HEART.

YEAH, THAT WASN'T IN THE CARDS, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE A GOLF ORGANIZATION, AND THE SUPER MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDS THAT WE RAISE ARE FROM THE GOLF TOURNAMENT, SO WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON THAT AND MAKE SURE WE DID EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO HAVE A SAFE EVENT.

WE'LL BRING BACK BIRDS NEST NEXT YEAR, BIGGER AND STRONGER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SCOTT, GOOD LUCK THIS WEEK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>>> MORE ON THE TOURNAMENT IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON CRONKITE NEWS.

>>> ARIZONA IS THE HEAD QUARTERS FOR WHAT IS CALLED THE DARK SKIES MOVEMENT, WHICH AIMS TO KEEP CITY LIGHTS FROM DIMMING THE BEAUTY OF THE NIGHT'S SKY.

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU JUST CAN'T SEE IN SPACE NO MATTER HOW DARK THE SKY.

A TEAM OF NASA TELESCOPE SCIENTISTS COUNT ON SOME ARIZONA EXPERTS FOR HELP IN SOLVING THAT PROBLEM.

>>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TELESCOPES WORKING IN SPACE, WE PICTURE -- WELL, PICTURES, LIKE THESE SPECTACULAR SHOTS.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF SCIENCE WAITING TO HAPPEN IN PARTS OF SPACE WE CAN'T SEE OR PHOTOGRAPH.

LIKE IN THE INFRARED SPECTRUM.

THE SPACE OBSERVATORY WAS THE LARGEST TELESCOPE EVER LAUNCHED.

IT WAS TO STUDY WHAT THE EARLY UNIVERSE LOOKED LIKE, BY EXPLORING DUST AND COLD OBJECTS INVISIBLE TO TELESCOPES, BUT AFTER FOUR YEARS, HURSHELL RAN OUTS OF FUEL AND DIED.

NOW SCIENTISTS AT ASU HAVE BEEN HELP K THE TEAM FROM NASA'S GODARD SPACECRAFT CENTER DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY FOR THE NEW TELESCOPE.

>> I WORK HERE IN THIS LAB DOING INSTRUMENTATION FOR ASTRONOMY AND KOS MOLLGY, MOSTLY.

>> IT'S A BRAND NEW CONCEPT THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF FOUR MISSIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.

I'M ON THE STUDY TEAM, REPRESENTING ENGINEERING AT NASA GODARD, AND THEY HAD A WORKSHOP, AND I MET PHIL.

WE CONNECTED.

WE REALIZED WE THINK A LOT A LIKE, AND THAT WE COULD DO A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER.

>> WE'RE LOOKING MOSTLY AT OUR OWN GALAXY AND UNDERSTAND BETTER THE PROCESS OF STAR FORMATION, SO HOW STARS FORM IN MOLECULAR CLOUDS.

>> WE STARTED OUT BY LOOKING AT THINGS THAT ARE FAR AWAY, THE MOON, THE PLANETS, THE STARS.

BUT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BIG AND FAR AWAY.

THERE IS STILL A LOT WE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE SMALL AND FAR AWAY, THINGS LIKE COMPLEX CLOUDS OF DUST.

MASSIVE CLOUDS OF MATERIAL OF SUCH FINE PARTICLES, IT MAY BE EVEN FINER THAN THIS TALCUM POWDER, MAYBE EVEN FINER THAN SMOKE.

STRANGELY ENOUGH, THE CHALLENGE WAS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A TELESCOPE THAT COULD SEE THIS FINE MATERIAL ANOTHER A GREAT DISTANCE, DOESN'T COME DOWN TO MAKING BIGGER LENS.

IT COMES DOWN TO MAKING A TELESCOPE THAT CAN OPERATE AT VERY, VERY COLD TEMPERATURES.

>> WE WORKED ON THE DESIGN OF THE DETECTORS, THE DESIGN OF THE OPTICS, AND THE ELECTRONICS TO READ OUT ALL OF THE DETECTORS.

THE TELESCOPE WORKS AT LONG WAVELENGTHS.

THE WAVELENGTH OF LIGHT THAT WE'RE OBSERVING IS A FRACTION OF A MILLIMETER.

SO WE HAD TO BUILD OUR OWN INCLUDING ALL OF THE DETECTORS.

PREVIOUS INSTRUMENTS HAVE NOT USED THESE SUPER DETECTORS.

>> THE CATALYST FOR THIS TRIP WAS THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT CAME ABOUT IS A THING THAT IS A REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY THAT JUST CAME ALONG, AND NOW WE'RE IN THIS RACE TO TRY TO GET THESE DEVICES UP AND RUNNING, BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TELESCOPE IS ENABLED BY THIS RFF TECHNOLOGY.

>> SO THE CHALLENGE IS WE HAVE A BRAND NEW BOARD THAT HAS JUST COME OUT.

IT'S HOT OFF OF THE PRESSES, AND WE HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN TRAINED UP ON THE BOARD.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE A BREAK THROUGH IN SCIENCE.

AND THEY HAVE A HIGH SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO.

>> TO UNDERSTAND SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO, WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT TUNING IN A RADIO STATION.

THE SIGNAL IS THE MUSIC, CLEAN AND CLEAR, BUT THE NOISE IS THIS STATIC, I'M HAVING TO DEAL WITH IN THE BACKGROUND.

IN ASTRONOMY, YOU WOULD LOVE TO GET ALL SIGNAL AND NO NOISE, BUT IN SPACE, TELESCOPES HAVE TO TAKE IN BOTH SIGNAL AND NOISE.

>> IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT HIGH RATIO, THEY NEED TO BE CRYOGENICALLY COOLED.

>> THIS WILL ALLOW ORIGIN SPACE TELESCOPE TO LOOK AT HOW STARS AND PLANETS FORMED OUR GALAXY.

>> STARS ARE LIKE CIGARS.

THEY BURN, BUT THEN THEY OFF GIVE OFF SMOKE.

IF YOU LOOK AT A FIRE, YOU CAN SEE THE SMOKE BECAUSE IT'S WARMER THAN THE SURROUNDINGS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SMOKE AND GAS GIVEN OFF BY THE STARS BY SURVEYING PLACES IN THE GALAXY WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF THIS SMOKE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE STARS ARE FORMING, AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY INTO THE CENTERS OF THE STAR-FORMATION REGION.

>> I CAN SAY MY TEAM HERE ALONG WITH THE TEAM AT ASU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL TEAMS TO GET THIS UP AND RUNNING.

>> WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE, A LOT OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE NEW PLATFORM FROM THIS AMAZING TEAM.

TO HAVE A PROOF OF CONCEPT MEANS THAT WE CAN RAISE THE TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL TO MAKE THE CASE THAT, HEY, WE HAVE A HIGH-SPEED DETECTOR READOUT SYSTEM THAT CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE CRYOGENICALLY COOLED PROJECTORS TO MAKE THIS DESIGN READY TO HAPPEN FOR SPACE.

>> THERE IS NO LAUNCH DATE SET AS OF YET.

BUT ANOTHER TELESCOPE, THE JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE IS DUE TO LAUNCH AT THEN OF OCTOBER.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE STATE OF EDUCATION IN ARIZONA, AND HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED STUDENTS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN'S DOCTOR TITLE.