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Make this your homepage Artist's impression of ISO in space LAUNCH DATE: 17-Nov-1995 01:20 UT   MISSION END: 16-May-1998 LAUNCH VEHICLE: Ariane 44P launcher, Kourou LAUNCH MASS: 2400 kg MISSION PHASE: Archive ORBIT: ISO was placed in a highly elliptical orbit with a perigee at around 1000 km; an apogee at 70 500 km; and a period of almost 24 hours. ACHIEVEMENTS: The discovery of water traces around the planets in our solar system and as far distant as the Orion Nebula New views of star formation, previously hidden by dust THE MISSION: ESA's Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) is an astronomical satellite that was operational between November 1995 and May 1998. It operated at wavelengths from 2.5 to 240 microns, in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because the atmosphere acts as an 'umbrella' for most infrared wavelengths -preventing them from reaching the ground- a space telescope is needed to detect this kind of radiation invisible to the human eye and to optical telescopes. SPECIAL FEATURES Science@ESA: Episode 3: Exploring the infrared Universe ISO mission report from 37th COSPAR meeting PUBLICATIONS ISO Science Legacy SPECIAL SITES ISO 10 Year Celebration

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