Explorer 66
E1036261
Explorer 66, better known as the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), is a NASA satellite launched in 1989 that made landmark measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation, providing key evidence for the Big Bang theory.
Statements (52)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
NASA spacecraft
ⓘ
artificial satellite ⓘ cosmic microwave background observatory ⓘ space observatory ⓘ |
| abbreviation |
DIRBE
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
DMR NERFINISHED ⓘ FIRAS NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs |
COBE
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Cosmic Background Explorer NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| apoapsis | ~900 km ⓘ |
| awardsAssociated | 1992 Nobel Prize in Physics (to John C. Mather and George F. Smoot, based on COBE results) NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| catalogDesignation | COBE NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| CMBTemperatureMeasured | ~2.725 K ⓘ |
| countryOfOperator |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| deactivationDate | 1993-12-23 ⓘ |
| inclination | ~99 degrees ⓘ |
| instrument |
Differential Microwave Radiometers
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment NERFINISHED ⓘ Far Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| keyDiscovery |
confirmation that the CMB spectrum is a near-perfect blackbody
ⓘ
detection of anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background ⓘ |
| launchContractor | McDonnell Douglas NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| launchDate | 1989-11-18 ⓘ |
| launchSite |
Space Launch Complex 2W
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Vandenberg Air Force Base NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| launchVehicle | Delta 5920-8 NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| launchYear | 1989 ⓘ |
| manufacturer | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| massAtLaunch | ~2227 kg ⓘ |
| missionDuration | ~4 years ⓘ |
| missionType |
astrophysics
ⓘ
cosmology ⓘ observatory ⓘ |
| notableResult |
first detailed full-sky map of the cosmic microwave background
ⓘ
measurement of CMB temperature to high precision ⓘ |
| operator | NASA ⓘ |
| orbitalPeriod | ~103 minutes ⓘ |
| orbitRegime | Sun-synchronous orbit NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| orbitType | low Earth orbit ⓘ |
| partOf | NASA Explorer series NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| periapsis | ~900 km ⓘ |
| primaryObjective |
measure the cosmic microwave background radiation
ⓘ
test predictions of the Big Bang theory ⓘ |
| principalInvestigator | George F. Smoot NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| program | Explorer program NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| projectScientist | John C. Mather NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| providedEvidenceFor | Big Bang theory NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| scientificDiscipline |
cosmology
ⓘ
observational astronomy ⓘ physical cosmology ⓘ |
| spaceAgency | NASA ⓘ |
| spacecraftBus | custom design ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.