WIRE is a mid-infrared satellite telescope which will survey about 2% of the sky at wavelengths 12 and 25 microns. The sensitivity is approximately 1000 greater than IRAS. WIRE is a NASA small explorer mission (SMEX) .

Latest update and pictures on WIRE: latest .

For a description of WIRE and pictures see the IPAC public page for WIRE Astronomers: here .

The WIRE orbit will be circular at an altitude of approximately 530 km. The current (January 4, 1999) scheduled launch date is February 26, 1999. The satellite telescope will be launched by Pegasus via an L1011 jet plane taking off from Vandenberg.