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The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) project was a joint enterprise,
with participants from NASA and its contractors, the European Space Agency,
and the British Science Research Council. IUE-1, launched into geosynchronous
orbit in January 1978, allowed hundreds of users at two locations to conduct
spectral studies of celestial ultraviolet sources. It was the first satellite
totally dedicated to ultraviolet astromony.
NASA provided the IUE spacecraft, optical and mechanical components of the
scientific instruments, the U.S. ground observatory, and the spacecraft control
software. ESA contributed the solar arrays IUE-1 needed as a power source and
the European ground observatory in Spain. The British Science Research Council
oversaw the development of the spectrograph television cameras and, with the
U.S., the image processing software.
The objects of IUE's studies were many: faint stars, quasars, comets, gas
streams, extragalactic objects, and the interstellar medium. The primary
instrument for these studies was a 45-centimeter Ritchey Chretien telescope.
Geosynchronous orbit permitted continuous observations and real-time data
access by the many observers who worked at the two ground observatories. With
the increased time, many "visiting observers" could take advantage of the
ultraviolet astronomy satellite. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center controlled
the spacecraft 16 hours of each day, while the European observatory near Madrid
controlled it for 8 hours
IUE Characteristics
Also called: International Ultraviolet Explorer
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NASA and: European Space Agency and
U.K. Science Research Council
Date of launch (range): Jan 26, 1978 (ETR)
Launch vehicle: Thor-Delta 2914
Shape: Octagonal
Weight (kg): 671
Dimensions: 1.3, diam. (4.3 with solar arrays)
4.3, length (with telescope tube)
Power source: solar arrays plus NiCd battery
Prime contractor: N/A
Date of re-entry: N/A
NASA's role: spacecraft launch vehicle, spacecraft support, tracking and data
acquisition, with ESA providing the solar arrays and a European
ground observatory and U.K. providing the image tubes for the
spectrograph and acquisition field camera.
Responsible NASA center: GSFC
Project manager: Gerald W. Longanecker
Project scientist: Albert Boggess
Objectives: To conduct spectral distribution studies of celestial untraviolet
sources (see below); ground observatories were established at GSFC
and at Vallofranca del Castillo.
Experiments: Satellite function as an observatory for hundreds of users (45-cm
Ritchey Chretien telescope); scientific goals included:
to obtain high resolution spectra of stars
to study gas streams
to observe faint stars, galaxies, and quasars
to observe the spectra of planets and comets
to make repeated observations which show variable spectra
to define more precisely the modifications of starlight caused by
interstellar dust and gas
Results: Highly successful