IUE

NASA/ESA

International Ultraviolet Explorer
Also called Explorer 57

Launch data:

Designation	10637 / 78012A
Launch date	26 Jan 1978
Launch site	CC, LC-17A
Launch vehicle	Delta-2914 (#132)
Operator	NASA + ESA
Mission	Scientific: UV astronomy
Earth orbit on:
Perigee/Apogee	30252/41315 km
Inclination	34.5°
Period	1435.9 min
Mass at launch	671 kg

A joint NASA/ESA/SERC (Search and Engineering Research Council) observatory satellite designed for ultraviolet spectrometry of cosmic UV sources. ESA's contribution was the construction of the spacecraft's solar panels and a ground station at Villafranca, Spain.

On 1st October 1995 the primary control of the still operating spacecraft was transferred from NASA to ESA. This because of NASA's cost reduction efforts.

Specifications

Mass at launch	644 kg
Length	4.17 m
Width	1.45 m
Solar array	45 m²
Stabilization	3-axis
Design lifetime	3 years

Payload: 0.45 m diameter UV telescope + 4 spectrographs

Telemetry: 138.86 & 2249.0 MHz
Command: 149.0 MHz

End of life

Out of service	30 Sep 1996
Cause	planned end of exploitation

Ref: #15, #27 - update: 24.01.16