Infrared Space Observatory

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

01:20:00

Friday November 17, 1995

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Flight V80.

Infrared Space Observatory

Wiki

The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was a space telescope for infrared light designed and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), in cooperation with ISAS (part of JAXA as of 2003) and NASA. The ISO was designed to study infrared light at wavelengths of 2.5 to 240 micrometres. The €480.1-million satellite was launched on 17 November 1995 from the ELA-2 launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre near Kourou in French Guiana. The launch vehicle, an Ariane 44P rocket, placed ISO successfully into a highly elliptical geocentric orbit, completing one revolution around the Earth every 24 hours. The primary mirror of its Ritchey-Chrétien telescope measured 60 cm in diameter and was cooled to 1.7 kelvins by means of superfluid helium. The ISO satellite contained four instruments that allowed for imaging and photometry from 2.5 to 240 micrometres and spectroscopy from 2.5 to 196.8 micrometers.

Highly Elliptical Orbit

1 Payload

2,498 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 44P

Active 1991 to 2001

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Rocket

Diameter: 3.8m

Height: 58.72m

Payload to Orbit

GTO: 3,460 kg

Liftoff Thrust

4,334 Kilonewtons

Stages

3

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

ELA-2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

16 days

Stats

Ariane 4


52nd

Mission

10th

Mission of 1995

European Space Agency


71st

Mission

10th

Mission of 1995

1995


68th

Orbital launch attempt