On January 26, 1978, the International Ultraviolet Explorer launched into orbit on a mission to study ultraviolet light emitted by stars and other bright objects in the universe.
Because a lot of that UV light is absorbed by Earth's ozone layer, astronomers needed a space-based observatory to look at it. The IUE mission allowed astronomers to study hot, bright stars, active galactic nuclei, supernova explosions and more. The mission was a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency, and it lasted more than 18 years before budget cuts led to its decommissioning. The derelict satellite is still in orbit around the Earth today.
Because a lot of that UV light is absorbed by Earth's ozone layer, astronomers needed a space-based observatory to look at it. The IUE mission allowed astronomers to study hot, bright stars, active galactic nuclei, supernova explosions and more. The mission was a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency, and it lasted more than 18 years before budget cuts led to its decommissioning. The derelict satellite is still in orbit around the Earth today.
Category
🤖
TechTranscript
00:00On this day, in space.
00:03On January 26th, 1978,
00:06the International Ultraviolet Explorer launched into orbit
00:09on a mission to study ultraviolet light emitted by stars and other bright objects in the universe.
00:13Because a lot of that UV light is absorbed by Earth's ozone layer,
00:17astronomers needed a space-based observatory to look at it.
00:20The IUE mission allowed astronomers to study hot bright stars,
00:23active galactic nuclei, supernova explosions, and more.
00:27The mission was a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency,
00:31and it lasted more than 18 years before budget cuts led to its decommissioning.
00:35The derelict satellite is still in orbit around the Earth today.
00:38And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:41♪