Explorer: GALEX (SMEX 7)
GALEX (SMEX 7) [OSC]
GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer) uses a Modified Ritchey-Chretien (Aspheric corrected) telescope for UV imaging and spectroscopic survey to map the global history and probe the causes of star formation and its evolution over the redshift range 0<z<2.
The GALEX method exploits demonstrated techniques to
- use the Lyman break to measure redshift and distance in photometric and spectroscopic data
- UV slope to measure extinction
- UV luminosity to measure star formation rate and its history over cosmic time
The GALEX space craft is based on Orbital's LEOStar-2 bus.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Astronomy, UV |
| Operator: | NASA |
| Contractors: | Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) |
| Equipment: | 50 cm Modified Ritchey-Chretien Telescope |
| Configuration: | LEOStar-2 |
| Propulsion: | ? |
| Power: | Deployable fixed solar array, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 312 kg |
| Orbit: | 690 km × 702 km, 29° |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GALEX (SMEX 7, Explorer 83) | 28.04.2003 | CC, L-1011, RW30/12 | Pegasus-XL |
