The Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer is a NASA Medium Class Explorer mission to perform a high-sensitivity, high
resolution, all-sky survey in four infrared wavelength bands. The science payload is a 40 cm aperture cryogenically
cooled infrared telescope with four 10242 infrared focal plane arrays covering from 2.8 to 26 μm. Mercury cadmium
telluride (MCT) detectors are used for the 3.3 μm and 4.6 μm channels, and Si:As detectors are used for the 12 μm and
23 μm wavelength channels. A cryogenic scan mirror freezes the field of view on the sky over the 9.9-second frame
integration time. A two-stage solid hydrogen cryostat provides cooling to temperatures less than 17 K and 8.3 K at the
telescope and Si:As focal planes, respectively. The science payload collects continuous data on orbit for the seven-month
baseline mission with a goal to support a year-long mission, if possible. As of the writing of this paper, the payload
subassemblies are complete, and the payload has begun integration and test. This paper provides a payload overview
and discusses instrument status and performance.
The Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer is a NASA Medium Class Explorer mission to perform an all-sky survey in four infrared wavelength bands. The science payload is a cryogenically cooled infrared telescope with four 10242 infrared focal plane arrays covering from 2.8 to 26 μm. Advances in focal plane technology and a large aperture cryogenic telescope allow an all-sky survey to be performed with high sensitivity and resolution. An efficient survey is obtained using a cryogenic scan mirror to freeze the field of view on the sky over the 9.9-second frame integration time. Mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detectors, cooled to 32 K, are used for the two midwave channels (3.3 μm and 4.6 μm), and Si:As detectors, cooled to < 8.3 K, are used for the two long wavelength channels (12 μm and 23 μm). Cooling is provided by a two-stage solid hydrogen cryostat which provides temperatures < 17 K and < 8.3 K at the telescope and Si:As focal planes, respectively. The science payload supports operations on orbit for the seven-month baseline mission with a goal to support a 13-month extended mission, if possible. The payload recently passed CDR and is being fabricated. This paper provides a payload overview and discusses instrument requirements and performance.
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