The First Orbiting Astronomical Infrared Telescope System - Its Development And Performance

Allan G Conrad; William R Irace

doi:10.1117/12.966153

9 January 1984 The First Orbiting Astronomical Infrared Telescope System - Its Development And Performance

Allan G Conrad, William R Irace

Proceedings Volume 0445, Instrumentation in Astronomy V; (1984) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.966153
Event: 1983 Astronomy Conferences, 1983, London, United Kingdom

Abstract

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched on January 25, 1983, and has provided astronomers with their first extended views of the universe in the 8 to 120 micron wavelength region. The infrared telescope system is one of several United States contribu-tions to this international project sponsored by the U.S.A., The Netherlands, and the U.K. This telescope employs four bands of detectors cooled to 2.4 K to achieve a noise equivalent flux density in the 10^-18to 10^-19watts/cm 2 range and will operate for approximately eleven months before depletion of its supply of superfluid helium. This paper describes major problems, early flight results and technical lessons learned during the course of the telescope's development and flight operations.

Citation Download Citation

Allan G Conrad and William R Irace "The First Orbiting Astronomical Infrared Telescope System - Its Development And Performance", Proc. SPIE 0445, Instrumentation in Astronomy V, (9 January 1984); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.966153

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available