Astrophysics

ISO

Completed

Launched: 17 Nov 199501:20:00 UTC
Last contact: 16 May 199812:00:00 UTC
End declared: 16 May 1998
Duration: 2 years 5 months
Destinations: High Earth orbit

ESA's Infrared Space Observatory, which made more than 26,000 observations and found water vapour in star-forming clouds, around old stars and in the atmospheres of the giant planets.

Milestones

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199619971998

Spacecraft

ISO

Telescope

Completed

Telescope with a 60 cm mirror inside a tank of superfluid helium, which lasted eight months longer than planned.

Launch mass: 2,498 kg
Dry mass: 1,515 kg
Size: 5.3 m × 2.8 m, span 5.3 m
Power: Solar
Built by: Aérospatiale (Cannes)
Last contact: 16 May 1998, 12:00:00 UTC
End declared: 16 May 1998
Designator: 1995-062A

Mission details from esa.int.