INFRARED SATELLITES SATELLITES & SPACE PROBES A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z           HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site Astro-F The second infrared astronomy mission of Japan’s ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science). Astro-F (see Astro- series) uses a 68.5-centimeter-diameter telescope, served by two infrared detectors and cooled to -267°C using liquid helium, to carry out a highly sensitive survey of the infrared sky from 1.7 microns (near-infrared) to 180 microns (far-infrared); its observations will astronomers investigate further the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets. The spacecraft has a mass of 960 kg. Astro-F, formerly known as IRIS (Infrared Imaging Surveyor), was under development since 1997. After many delays, it was finally launched into a sun-synchronous, 745-km-high, polar orbit by an M-5 rocket from Uchinoura Space Center on Feb. 21, 2006. Related categories    • INFRARED ASTRONOMY SATELLITES    • JAPANESE SPACECRAFT    • SATELLITES AND SPACE PROBES Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP