WIRE (Explorer 75)

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

02:56:00

Friday March 5, 1999

Mission Details

WIRE was intended to be a four-month infrared survey of the entire sky at 21-27 micrometres and 9-15 micrometres, specifically focusing on starburst galaxies and luminous protogalaxies.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit

1 Payload

250 kilograms

Rocket

Active

Pegasus XL

Active Since 1994

Agency

Northrop

Price

$40.00 million

Rocket

Height: 17.6m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 443 kg

Liftoff Thrust

561 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 1.15m

Height: 2.13m

Stages

4

Launch Site

Stargazer

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

46 days 5 hours

Stargazer

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

46 days 5 hours

Stats

Pegasus

26th

Mission

1st

Mission of 1999

1999

11th

Orbital launch attempt