Wide Field Infrared Explorer
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.
Wide Field Infrared Explorer spacecraft | |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 470 km (290 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 540 km (340 mi) |
| Inclination | 97° |
| Explorer program | |
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.
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