How a single infrared eye mapped the entire sky
In short: Launched in 2009, NASA’s WISE telescope was designed to capture the universe in infrared light. From hunting mysterious brown dwarfs to tracking potentially threatening asteroids, this mission has provided a transformative view of our cosmos, even as its orbit finally begins to decay.
The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, known as WISE, began its journey on December 14, 2009, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Its primary objective was a massive undertaking: to survey the entire sky using four distinct infrared wavelength bands, specifically 3.4, 4.6, 12, and 22 micrometers. By September 30, 2010, the mission had successfully completed its sweeping goal of recording the full sky, though the depletion of frozen hydrogen cooling the telescope marked the end of its primary phase.
The mission's legacy is split into two distinct eras. Initially, the telescope focused on deep-space cataloging, searching for objects like blacker-than-coal asteroids, bright galaxies, and elusive brown dwarfs. However, in late 2013, the spacecraft was reactivated with a new identity: NEOWISE. This second chapter transformed the telescope into a planetary defender, tasked with the vital work of detecting near-Earth objects, such as comets and asteroids that might pose a threat to our planet.
As of late 2024, the mission is reaching its inevitable conclusion. Increased solar activity has expanded Earth's atmosphere, creating more drag on the spacecraft as it orbits every 95 minutes. Following its official decommissioning on August 8, 2024, the spacecraft was placed into hibernation for the final time. After more than a decade of service, the telescope is expected to re-enter the atmosphere and burn up, leaving behind a massive archive of two million images for astronomers to study.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Science Bulletins: WISE Focus on Infinity
- Also: WISE/NEOWISE - NASA Science
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