WIRE (Wide-Field Infrared Explorer)

A SMEX (Small Explorer) satellite whose primary purpose was a four-month infrared survey of the universe, focusing specifically on starburst galaxies and luminous protogalaxies. WIRE experienced problems shortly after launch and ground controllers attempted to recover the spacecraft. However, the entire supply of frozen hydrogen needed to cool its main scientific instrument was released into space, ending the spacecraft's primary mission. Operations have been redirected to use the onboard star tracker for long-term monitoring of bright stars in support of two separate science programs: astroseismology and planet-finding. The astroseismology program is intended to measure oscillations in nearby stars to probe their structure. The planet-finding program searches for stellar occultations by large planetary bodies as they pass through WIRE's line-of-sight to its target star.

launch date	Mar. 4, 1999
launch vehicle	Pegasus XL
launch site	Vandenberg Air Force Base
orbit	540 × 590 km × 98°
mass	259 kg

Related entries

• infrared astronomy
• infrared astronomy satellites

Related category

• SATELLITES AND SPACE PROBES

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