The Day Space Became Crowded
Eight years ago, a single Indian rocket launched 104 satellites into orbit, marking a pivotal moment when space tracking professionals realized the dawn of a new, congested era in orbital operations
NEOWISE (36119)
COSPAR: 2009-071A | Alt Name: WISE
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
December 14, 2009
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
SLC2W
Launch Vehicle
Delta 7320-10C
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
36119
International Designator
2009-071A
Decay Date
11/1/2024
Basic Satellite Info
Name
NEOWISE
Alternative Name
WISE
Type
Payload
Status
Decayed
Owner
JPL
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Summary
NEOWISE (formerly WISE) is an astronomy and infrared satellite launched by JPL on December 14, 2009, from Vandenberg Space Force Base using a Delta 7320-10C launch vehicle. The spacecraft measures 2.9 meters in length with a diameter of 2 meters and spans 3.5 meters. It has a dry mass of 645 kilograms and was equipped with a two-stage solid-hydrogen cryostat and a 50-cm telescope. NEOWISE operates on solar power with fixed solar arrays and batteries for energy storage. The satellite's mission configuration includes an RS-300 3-axis stabilized bus, body-fixed solar arrays, and a gimbaled high gain antenna. Its planned lifetime was 10 months but extended to reach 14.6 years. NEOWISE was manufactured by BALL and is used for astronomy and infrared purposes, contributing significantly to space observation and data collection.
Physical Characteristics
Length
2.9
Diameter
2
Span
3.5
Dry Mass
645
Launch Mass
661
Shape
Cyl + Pan
Radar Cross Section
2.1209
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
WISE
Purpose
Astronomy, Infrared
Mission
Astronomy, Infrared
Manufacturer
BALL
Life Expectancy
10 months (planned), 14.6 years (reached)
Bus
BCP-300
Configuration
RS-300 3-axis stabilized bus, body-fixed solar arrays, gimbaled high gain antenna.
Motor
None
Equipment
two-stage solid-hydrogen cryostat, 50-cm telescope
Power System
Fixed solar array, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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