NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2009-071A
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 an all-sky astronomical 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 WISE mission lasted for ten months as planned until September 2010 when its hydrogen coolant ran out. The spacecraft was repurposed in October 2010 as the NEOWISE mission to hunt for near-earth asteroids and comets (two of four detectors work without cryogen). This initial NEO search, which consisted of a full scan of the asteroid belt, lasted until February 2011 when the spacecraft was put into hibernation. In December 2013 the NEOWISE mission was recommissioned to continue its NEO search and is still operational.
Launch Date: 2009-12-14
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Launch Site: Vandenberg AFB, United States
Mass: 661 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Dr. Edwin V. Bell, II
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Amy K Mainzer | Mission Principal Investigator | University of Arizona | amainzer@lpl.arizona.edu |
WISE and NEOWISE projects (NASA JPL)
WISE project (U. California, Berkeley)
NEOWISE project (IPAC, Caltech)
WISE image service
NEOWISE image service
Explorers program (NASA GSFC)