WISE

Description

WISE, NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, was launched on a Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg on 14 December 2009 at 14:09 UT. The cryogenically-cooled, 661 kg satellite carries a 0.4 m diameter telescope and four detectors to perform a sky survey in infrared wavelengths. WISE will observe in four bands, 3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 microns. Every 11 s images of a 47 arc-minute wide field will be made on to detector arrays of over one million pixels each. The mission will last until the coolant is depleted, approximately ten months. This is expected to be sufficient time to complete one-and-a-half surveys after a one month checkout period.