Estimated performance of the Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) instrument

David L. Shupe; Mark F. Larsen; Steven D. Sargent; James Q. Peterson; Joseph J. Tansock Jr.; Thomas S. Luchik; Perry B. Hacking; Terry L. Herter

doi:10.1117/12.324463

28 August 1998 Estimated performance of the Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) instrument

David L. Shupe, Mark F. Larsen, Steven D. Sargent, James Q. Peterson, Joseph J. Tansock Jr., Thomas S. Luchik, Perry B. Hacking, Terry L. Herter

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Proceedings Volume 3356, Space Telescopes and Instruments V; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324463
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

The Wide-Field IR Explorer (WIRE) is a small spaceborne cryogenic IR telescope being readied for launch in September 1998. Part of NASA's Small Explorer program, WIRE will carry out a deep pointed survey in broad 24 and 12 micron passbands designed primarily to study the evolution of starburst galaxies and to search for protogalaxies. The strategy for the WIRE survey and its stare-and-dither technique for building up long exposure times are described. An overview of the WIRE instrument is presented, with emphasis on the results of ground characterization and expected on-orbit performance of the WIRE optics and the Si:As focal plane arrays. The result of the ground characterization demonstrate that WIRE will meet or exceed the requirements for its science objectives. A brief overview is given of the primary and additional science that will be enabled by WIRE.

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David L. Shupe, Mark F. Larsen, Steven D. Sargent, James Q. Peterson, Joseph J. Tansock Jr., Thomas S. Luchik, Perry B. Hacking, and Terry L. Herter "Estimated performance of the Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) instrument", Proc. SPIE 3356, Space Telescopes and Instruments V, (28 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324463

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