NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Managing the Development of the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer MissionThe Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), a NASA Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) mission, is surveying the entire sky in four bands from 3.4 to 22 microns with a sensitivity hundreds to hundreds of thousands times better than previous all-sky surveys at these wavelengths. The single WISE instrument consists of a 40 cm three-mirror anastigmatic telescope, a two-stage solid hydrogen cryostat, a scan mirror mechanism, and reimaging optics giving 6" resolution (full-width-half-maximum). WISE was placed into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit on a Delta II 7320 launch vehicle on December 14, 2009. NASA selected WISE as a MIDEX in 2002 following a rigorous competitive selection process. To gain further confidence in WISE, NASA extended the development period one year with an option to cancel the mission if certain criteria were not met. MIDEX missions are led by the principal investigator who in this case delegated day-to-day management to the project manager. With a cost cap and relatively short development schedule, it was essential for all WISE partners to work seamlessly together. This was accomplished with an integrated management team representing all key partners and disciplines. The project was developed on budget and on schedule in spite of the need to surmount significant technical challenges. This paper describes our management approach, key challenges and critical decisions made. Results are described from a programmatic, technical and scientific point of view. Lessons learned are offered for projects of this type.
Document ID
20150008485
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Irace, William
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Cutri, Roc
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Duval, Valerie
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Eisenhardt, Peter
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Elwell, John
(Utah State Univ. Research Foundation North Logan, UT, United States)
Greanias, George
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Heinrichsen, Ingolf
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Howard, Joan
(Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. Boulder, CO, United States)
Liu, Feng-Chuan
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Royer, Donald
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Wright, Edward L.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
May 20, 2015
Publication Date
June 27, 2010
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Administration And Management
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2010 SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation Conference
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 27, 2010
End Date: July 2, 2010
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
cryogenic
survey
management
infrared
satellite
telescope

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available