International Ultraviolet Explorer
The International Ultraviolet Explorer was a NASA/ESA/UK ultraviolet astronomy mission launched on January 26, 1978 into geosynchronous orbit. It enabled flexible, real-time ultraviolet spectroscopy of stars, galaxies, planets, comets, and transient events.
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Identity
- Aliases
- IUEInternational Ultraviolet ExplorerSAS-D
- Name
- International Ultraviolet Explorer
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- The International Ultraviolet Explorer was a NASA/ESA/UK ultraviolet astronomy mission launched on January 26, 1978 into geosynchronous orbit. It enabled flexible, real-time ultraviolet spectroscopy of stars, galaxies, planets, comets, and transient events.
- Destination
- Eccentric geosynchronous Earth orbit over the Atlantic Ocean (approximately 24-hour period)
- End Date
- 1996-09-30
- Outcome
- IUE operated continuously for nearly nineteen years, returning more than 100,000 ultraviolet observations before receiving its final shutdown command on September 30, 1996.
- Programs
- -
- Start Date
- 1978-01-26
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/iue/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 1, 2026 at 16:53:49 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 21, 2026 at 12:41:09 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles