Wide Field Infrared Explorer
NASA satellite of the Explorer program / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WIRE, also Explorer 75 and SMEX-5) was a NASA satellite launched on 5 March 1999, on the Pegasus XL launch vehicle into polar orbit between 409 and 426 km (254 and 265 mi) above the surface of Earth. WIRE was intended to be a four-month infrared survey of the entire sky at 21-27 µm and 9-15 µm, specifically focusing on starburst galaxies and luminous protogalaxies.
Quick Facts Names, Mission type ...
Names | Explorer-75 WIRE SMEX-5 |
---|---|
Mission type | Infrared astronomy |
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1999-011A |
SATCAT no. | 25646 |
Website | http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/wire/ |
Mission duration | 4 months (planned) 1 year, 4 months, 10 days (achieved) [1] |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Explorer LXXV |
Spacecraft type | Wide-field Infrared Explorer |
Bus | WIRE |
Manufacturer | Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) |
Launch mass | 250 kg (550 lb) |
Power | 160 watts |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 5 March 1999, 02:56 UTC |
Rocket | Pegasus XL (F26) |
Launch site | Vandenberg Air Force Base, Stargazer |
Contractor | Orbital Sciences Corporation |
Entered service | Failed on orbit |
End of mission | |
Deactivated | 30 September 2000 |
Last contact | 30 September 2000 |
Decay date | 10 May 2011, 07:00 UTC |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit[2] |
Regime | Sun-synchronous orbit |
Perigee altitude | 470 km (290 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 540 km (340 mi) |
Inclination | 97° |
Explorer program |
Close
WIRE had problems and was unable to carry out its IR survey, and was deactivated on 30 September 2000, and finally reentered and burned up in 2011.