Estimated performance of the Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) instrument

ABSTRACT The Wide-Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) is a small spaceborne cryogenic infrared telescope being readied for launch inSeptember 1998. Part of NASA's Small Explorer program, WIRE will carry out a deep pointed survey in broad 24 and 12micron passbands designed primariiy to study the evolution of starburst galaxies and to search for protogalaxies. The strategyfor the WIRE survey and its stare-and-dither technique for building up long exposure times are described. An overview of theWIRE instrument is presented, with emphasis on the results of ground characterization and expected on-orbit performance ofthe WIRE optics and the Si:As focal plane arrays. The results of the ground characterization demonstrate that WIRE willmeet or exceed the requirements for its science objectives. A brief overview is given of the primary and additional science(ranging from the evolution of galaxies to brown dwarf searches to Solar System studies) that will be enabled by WIRE.Keywords: cryogenic space telescopes, infrared astronomy, Small Explorer missions, infrared focal plane arrays, pre-flightcharacterization.