Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer

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Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE)
EUVE Photo.gif
The EUVE spacecraft
NamesExplorer 67
Mission typeUltraviolet astronomy
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1992-031A
SATCAT no.21987
Websitessl.berkeley.edu/euve
Mission duration9 years
Spacecraft properties
BusMultimission Modular Spacecraft
ManufacturerUC Berkeley SSL
Dry mass3,275 kilograms (7,220 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateJune 7, 1992, 16:40:00 (1992-06-07UTC16:40Z) UTC
RocketDelta 6920-X[1]
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17A[1]
End of mission
Disposaldeactivated
Deactivated31 January 2001 (2001-02-01)
Decay date30 January 2002
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Eccentricity0.01152
Perigee altitude515 kilometers (320 mi)
Apogee altitude527 kilometers (327 mi)
Inclination28.4 degrees
Period94.8 minutes
Epoch11 July 1992[2]
Main telescope
TypeWolter telescope
WavelengthsUltraviolet (7-76 nm)
Explorers program
← COBE
SAMPEX →
 

The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) was a space telescope for ultraviolet astronomy, launched on June 7, 1992. With instruments for ultraviolet (UV) radiation between wavelengths of 7 and 76 nm, the EUVE was the first satellite mission especially for the short-wave ultraviolet range. The satellite compiled an all-sky survey of 801 astronomical targets before being decommissioned on January 31, 2001. It re-entered the atmosphere on January 30, 2002.[3]

Mission goals[]

The goals of the mission included several different areas of observation using the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range of frequencies:

  • To make an all-sky survey in the extreme ultraviolet band
  • To make a deep survey in the EUV range on two separate bandpasses
  • To make spectroscopic observations of targets found by other missions
  • To observe EUV sources such as hot white dwarfs and
  • To study the composition of the interstellar medium using EUV spectroscopy
  • To determine whether it would be beneficial to create another, more sensitive EUV telescope

Payload instruments[]

NASA describe these:[4]

  • 2 Wolter-Schwarzschild Type I grazing incidence mirror, each with an imaging microchannel plate (MCP detector) (Scanner A & B) FOV ~5° diameter; two passbands 44-220 Å 140-360 Å
  • 1 Wolter-Schwarzschild Type II grazing incidence mirror, with an imaging microchannel plate (MCP detector) FOV ~4° diameter; two passbands 520-750 Å 400-600 Å
  • 1 Wolter-Schwarzschild Type II grazing incidence mirror Deep Survey/Spectrometer Telescope. The light is split, with half of the light fed to:
    • An imaging Deep Survey MCP detector, and
    • Three Spectrometers which are each combinations of a grating and MCP detector: SW (70-190 Å) MW (140-380 Å) LW (280-760 Å).
The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer Spacecraft prior to launch

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "EUVE". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  3. ^ "EUVE spacecraft re-enters Earth's atmosphere" (Press release). NASA. January 31, 2002.
  4. ^ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/euve/euve.html

External links[]

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