WISE

50th Anniversary of Explorer 1

January 31st, 2008

Today is the 50th anniversary of the launch of America’s first satellite, Explorer 1.

25th Anniversary of IRAS

January 25th, 2008

Today marks the 25th anniversary from the launch of IRAS (January 25, 1983). The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) is WISE's predecessor, successfully conducting a ten month all-sky survey.

The Eyes of WISE

December 27th, 2007

The "eyes of WISE," four infrared focal plane assemblies (FPAs), have completed testing at the suppliers DRS and Teledyne Instrument Systems, and have been delivered to the builder of the WISE Payload, Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory.

NASA Provides WISE "Approval to Proceed"

August 1st, 2007

NASA has approved construction of the launch vehicle which will lift WISE into orbit over the Earth's poles. WISE will be launched on a Delta 7320 rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base on California's central coast in November, 2009. The WISE Delta will be built and launched by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corporations.

WISE Completes Design Review

June 21st, 2007

The WISE project has successfully completed its Mission Critical Design Review (CDR). The CDR is an important milestone in the development of the WISE project. It marks the formal completion of design work and the transition to construction and test of the WISE flight and ground systems.

NASA Approves Construction of WISE

October 18th, 2006

After eight years of study, NASA has approved the construction of an unmanned satellite that will scan the entire sky in infrared light to reveal nearby cool stars, planetary "construction zones" and the brightest galaxies in the universe. Launch of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) — the second phase of the WISE mission — is scheduled for late 2009. The satellite will orbit the Earth and operate for at least seven months, with data expected a few times a day.

Failed Stars Focus of New NASA Project

October 14th, 2006

NASA on Friday approved the construction of a $300 million, Earth-orbiting telescope that will scan the skies for failed stars called brown dwarfs, along with other celestial eccentrics.

UCLA Professor to Lead New NASA Mission

October 14th, 2006

One of UCLA's astronomers was recently named principal investigator for a new NASA project that will help scientists and laypeople wise up to the mysterious ways of the universe.

NASA Says: 'Build It and Infrared Surprises Will Come'

October 13th, 2006

Engineers are rolling up their sleeves in preparation for building a telescope that will find the nearest star-like objects and the brightest galaxies.

WISE Completes Preliminary Design Reviews

September 1st, 2005

WISE has completed and passed its preliminary design reviews, and is awaiting confirmation from NASA headquarters to proceed into final design and construction.