WISE

WISE Completes Image Quality Testing

April 17th, 2009

Final image quality and focus testing of the WISE payload was completed successfully.

NASA Approves NEOWISE

April 1st, 2009

NASA Headquarters has approved the development of an enhancement to the WISE science data processing pipeline called NEOWISE. The NEOWISE enhancements will allow scientists to discover new moving objects such as asteroids and comets with WISE and provide information for follow up observations within days of the WISE observations.

WISE Completes Post-Vibration Testing

March 31st, 2009

Post-vibration testing of the WISE payload functionality was completed successfully.

Preliminary Results of WISE Solid Hydrogen Testing

March 27th, 2009

Preliminary results of the WISE solid hydrogen testing were released. The ground hold time was measured as 52 hours, exceeding the 44 hour requirement and allowing for launch attempts on two consecutive days without cryogenic servicing. The in flight cryogenic lifetime estimate is 10 months, exceeding the 7 month requirement and allowing for the possibility of a second survey of 50% of the sky.

WISE Completes Payload Vibration Testing

January 7th, 2009

The WISE team successfully completed payload vibration testing and the payload is now being prepared for solid hydrogen testing.

WISE Passes System Integration Review

November 20th, 2008

The spacecraft passed the System Integration Review at Ball Aerospace, so we can proceed to assemble and test the flight system.

WISE Completes Test of Data System

November 17th, 2008

The WISE team completed an end-to-end test of the data system, sending data from the instrument through the spacecraft, transmitting to the geosynchronous Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), back from TDRSS to the ground station in White Sands, New Mexico, and over the internet to the WISE Science Data Center at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center in Pasadena.

Sizing Up Near-Earth Asteroids

November 12th, 2008

Deputy Project Scientist Amy Mainzer has posted a story on the JPL Blog about Sizing Up Near-Earth Asteroids

An Infrared Glimpse of What's to Come

July 22nd, 2008

Deputy Project Scientist Amy Mainzer has posted a story on the JPL Blog about the building of WISE.

WISE Deputy Project Scientist Amy Mainzer Featured on History Channel

March 4th, 2008

WISE Deputy Project Scientist Amy Mainzer is featured in several episodes of Season 2 and the upcoming Season 3 of “The Universe” on the History Channel. Season 2 episodes: Constellations, Cosmic Collisions, and Biggest Things in Space (WISE is mentioned in this episode). Season 3 episodes so far: The Strangest Things in Space, and Asteroids and Comets.