Infrared Astronomical Satellite
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| Infrared Astronomical Satellite | |
|---|---|
| Name | Infrared Astronomical Satellite |
| Mission type | Astronomy |
| Operator | NASA / NIVR / SERC |
| COSPAR ID | 1983-004A |
| SATCAT | 13777 |
| Mission duration | 10 months (planned), ~10 months (achieved) |
| Manufacturer | Ball Aerospace / Dutch Space / Grumman |
| Launch mass | 1,083 kg (2,388 lb) |
| Power | 500 watts |
| Launch date | 25 January 1983, 22:17 UTC |
| Launch rocket | Delta 3910 (Delta 166) |
| Launch site | Vandenberg SLC-2W |
| End of mission | Deactivated |
| Decay date | Still in Low Earth orbit |
| Orbit reference | Geocentric orbit |
| Orbit regime | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| Orbit periapsis | 889 km (552 mi) |
| Orbit apoapsis | 903 km (561 mi) |
| Orbit inclination | 99.0° |
| Orbit period | 103.2 minutes |
| Apsis | gee |
Infrared Astronomical Satellite was the first space telescope to conduct a comprehensive all-sky survey at infrared wavelengths. A pioneering collaboration between the United States (NASA), the Netherlands (NIVR), and the United Kingdom (SERC), it mapped over 96% of the celestial sphere. Its ten-month mission in 1983 fundamentally transformed astronomy by revealing a universe rich with cool, dusty objects invisible to optical telescopes.
Overview
The mission represented a major international achievement in space exploration. Operating from a Sun-synchronous orbit, its superfluid helium-cooled telescope was designed to detect electromagnetic radiation from sources as cold as interstellar dust. The resulting point source catalog became an essential resource for astronomers worldwide, serving as the foundation for decades of follow-up research with instruments like the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Herschel Space Observatory.
Development and launch
The concept for a dedicated infrared survey satellite was developed in the 1970s, leading to a formal agreement between NASA, the Dutch NIVR, and the UK's SERC. Prime contractor Ball Aerospace built the spacecraft bus, while the Grumman corporation contributed critical systems. The telescope's cryogenic system, filled with over 500 liters of liquid helium, was a key technological challenge. Launched successfully on a Delta 3910 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in January 1983, it achieved its planned Sun-synchronous orbit without issue.
Scientific instruments
The sole instrument was a Ritchey–Chrétien telescope with a 57-centimeter primary mirror made of beryllium. Its focal plane contained 62 solid-state detectors arranged to survey the sky in four broad passbands centered at 12, 25, 60, and 100 micrometres. A crucial component was the Dutch Space-provided cryostat, which maintained the telescope and detectors at temperatures near absolute zero using evaporative cooling from the superfluid helium supply, ensuring extreme sensitivity.
Major discoveries
The satellite's survey led to a plethora of groundbreaking discoveries. It identified over 350,000 point sources, including vast numbers of star-forming regions and protostars shrouded in dust. It discovered several comets, most notably Comet IRAS–Araki–Alcock, and revealed the complex structure of our Milky Way's circumstellar dust. Perhaps its most famous finds were infrared cirrus (wispy interstellar dust clouds) and conclusive evidence for debris disks, like that around Vega, suggesting the presence of planetary systems. It also detected ultraluminous starburst galaxies like Arp 220.
Mission profile and end of operations
The mission's operational life was dictated by its cryogen supply. For ten months, the satellite scanned the sky in overlapping strips, transmitting data to ground stations for processing by teams at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The liquid helium coolant was exhausted as predicted on 22 November 1983, rendering the telescope inoperative. The spacecraft was placed in a safe mode and remains in a stable low Earth orbit, where it is tracked by the United States Space Command.
Legacy and impact
The legacy of the mission is immense, effectively creating the field of space infrared astronomy. Its all-sky catalogs and atlases continue to be used for research. The mission directly paved the way for major subsequent observatories such as the Infrared Space Observatory, the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Akari satellite, and the James Webb Space Telescope. Its discovery of debris disks initiated the systematic study of exoplanet formation, influencing projects like the Kepler space telescope.
Category:Space telescopes Category:Infrared telescopes Category:NASA space probes Category:Satellites launched in 1983 Category:Artificial satellites orbiting Earth