WISE

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

14:09:00

Monday December 14, 2009

Watch Replay

Official Livestream

Mission Details

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Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer

Wiki

Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE, observatory code C51) is a NASA infrared-wavelength astronomical space telescope launched in December 2009, and placed in hibernation mode in February 2011. It was re-activated in 2013. WISE discovered thousands of minor planets and numerous star clusters. Its observations also supported the discovery of the first Y Dwarf and Earth trojan asteroid. WISE performed an all-sky astronomical survey with images in 3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 μm wavelength range bands, over ten months using a 40 cm (16 in) diameter infrared telescope in Earth orbit. After its hydrogen coolant depleted, a four-month mission extension called NEOWISE was conducted to search for near-Earth objects such as comets and asteroids using its remaining capability. The All-Sky data including processed images, source catalogs and raw data, was released to the public on March 14, 2012, and is available at the Infrared Science Archive. In August 2013, NASA announced it would reactivate the WISE telescope for a new three-year mission to search for asteroids that could collide with Earth. Science operations and data processing for WISE and NEOWISE take place at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

661 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Delta II 7320-10C

Active 1999 to 2015

United Launch Alliance logo

Agency

ULA

Rocket

Height: 38.9m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 2,703 kg

Liftoff Thrust

2,533 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 3m

Height: 8.9m

Stages

2

Strap-ons

3

Launch Site

SLC-2W

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

13 days 1 hour

Stats

Delta II


147th

Mission

8th

Mission of 2009

United Launch Alliance


37th

Mission

16th

Mission of 2009

2009


74th

Orbital launch attempt