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The Infrared Space Observatory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

C.J. Cesarsky  and
M.F. Kessler
C.J. Cesarsky
Affiliation:
Service d’Astrophysique, DPhG, CEN Saclay, France
M.F. Kessler
Affiliation:
Space Science Department of ESA, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Abstract

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The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), a fully approved and funded project of the European Space Agency (ESA), is an astronomical satellite, which will operate at wavelengths from 3–200 μm. ISO will provide astronomers with a unique facility of unprecedented sensitivity for a detailed exploration of the universe ranging from objects in the solar system right out to distant extragalactic sources. The satellite essentially consists of a large cryostat containing at launch about 2300 litres of superfluid helium to maintain the Ritchey-Chrétien telescope, the scientific instruments and the optical baffles at temperatures between 2K and 8K. The telescope has a 60-cm diameter primary mirror and is diffraction-limited at a wavelength of 5μm. A pointing accuracy of a few arc seconds is provided by a three-axis-stabilisation system consisting of reaction wheels, gyros and optical sensors. ISO’s instrument complement consists of four instruments, namely: a photo-polarimeter (3–200μm), a camera (3–17μm), a short wavelength spectrometer (3–45μm) and a long wavelength spectrometer (45–180μm). These instruments are being built by international consortia of scientific institutes and will be delivered to ESA for in-orbit operations. ISO will be launched in 1993 by an Ariane 4 into an elliptical orbit (apogee 70000km and perigee 1000km) and will be operational for at least 18 months. In keeping with ISO’s role as an observatory, two-thirds of its observing time will be made available to the european and american astronomical community.

Type
II. Future Missions
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 123: Observatories in Earth Orbit and Beyond , 1990 , pp. 205 - 214
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1990

References

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