International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) Post Launch Report 2

Abstract

The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), an Explorer class ultraviolet astronomy mission, is an international cooperative program between the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), and the European Space Agency (ESA) which provides for a single launch into geosynchronous orbit to conduct spectral distribution studies of celestial and solar system ultraviolet sources. The spacecraft and scientific instruments were designed and fabricated at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The spectrograph camera was provided by the UK; ESA provided the solar array as well as the European ground station. The IUE observatory system was designed to functionally resemble a ground-based optical observatory at which guest observers could execute observing programs in real time. Observatory performance substantially exceeded design and mission objectives. The secondary mission objectives were also met.