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MAP
MAP
MAP
Credit: Manufacturer Image
American infrared astronomy satellite. NASA's Microwave Anisotropy Probe was placed at the L2 Earth-Moon Lagrangian point 1.5 million km from Earth to observe the dark extragalactic sky with differential microwave radiometers using two 1.5-meter reflectors working at 22 to 90 GHz. Research (Cosmology) satellite built by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Swales Aerospace for NASA, USA. Launched 2001.

Status: Operational 2001. First Launch: 2001-06-30. Last Launch: 2001-06-30. Number: 1 . Gross mass: 840 kg (1,850 lb). Unfuelled mass: 768 kg (1,693 lb).

It measured fluctuations in the cosmic 3 Kelvin microwave background down to 35 microKelvin on scales down to 0.2 degrees. Ground-based experiments had provided convincing evidence that these background fluctuations were consistent with a model in which the total density of the universe was closely equal to the critical density; MAP was designed to refine and extend these observations. The spacecraft had a dry mass of 768 kg and carried 72 kg of propellant. It was built at NASA-Goddard, and the microwave instrument was built in collaboration with Princeton University. MAP was the second MIDEX mid-sized Explorer - the first was IMAGE, which studied the magnetosphere. The third MIDEX was to be SWIFT, for gamma ray burst studies, due for launch in 2003.

The 400 W MAP probe was to scan the sky in five wavelength bands at 13.6, 10.0, 7.5, 5.0, and 3.3 mm at an angular resolution of about 0.58 (+/- 0.035) deg, and at a sensitivity of 35 micro-Kelvin after "parking" itself over the second Lagrangian point (L-2) at 1.5 million km in the nightside. These parameters were invoked on the basis of the anisotropy in the 2.7 deg Kelvin cosmic radiation revealed by the earlier mission, COBE. It carried two Gregorian telescopes each with a primary reflector of about 1.5 m and a secondary of 1.0 m diameter. The two telescopes were to point to the sky a few degrees apart so that the difference in the temperature could be directly outputted. (One of the branches of cosmology invokes an early "inflationary" epoch of spurious super-expansion of the "Big Bang" fireball giving rise to a small anisotropy that eventually gave birth to the galactic structures in the otherwise mathematically homogenous and isotropic universe.) The spacecraft had an intrinsic spin of 0.464 rpm superposed on a precession (22.5 deg about the Sun-MAP line) of 1.0 rph. A full-sky map could be obtained every six months. MAP was to reach L-2 after three or more lunar encounters/phasings, and enter into a controlled Lissajous orbit around that point with a maximum deviation of the Sun-MAP line from the Sun-Earth line of 10 deg. About four thrust maneuvers/year were required to sustain the orbit configuration.


More at: MAP.

Family: Astronomy, Infrared astronomy satellite. Country: USA. Launch Vehicles: Thor, Delta, Delta 2 7000, Delta 7425-10. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC17B. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Bibliography: 2, 296, 3960, 3961, 12787.

2001 June 30 - . 19:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. Launch Pad: SLC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7425-10.
2001 July 30 - .

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