Editing GALEX (section)

{{Short description|NASA UV space telescope of the Explorer program, operated 2003-2013}}
{{About|the ultraviolet space telescope|the neutrino detector|GALLEX|other uses|GALEX (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name              = Galaxy Evolution Explorer
| names_list        = Explorer-83<br/>SMEX-7
| image             = GALEX spacecraft model.png
| image_caption     = GALEX spacecraft
| image_size        = 300px

| mission_type      = [[Ultraviolet astronomy]]
| operator          = [[NASA]]{{\}}[[Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]] (2003-2012)<br/>[[California Institute of Technology|Caltech]] (2012-2013)
| COSPAR_ID         = 2003-017A
| SATCAT            = 27783
| website           = https://www.galex.caltech.edu/
| mission_duration  = 29 months (planned) <ref name="Display"/><br/>{{time interval|28 April 2003|28 June 2013|show=ym|sep=,}} (achieved) <ref name="JPL"/><ref name="Decommission"/>

| spacecraft        = Explorer LXXXIII
| spacecraft_type   = Galaxy Evolution Explorer
| spacecraft_bus    = [[GeoEye|Orbview 4]]
| manufacturer      = [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]]
| launch_mass       = {{cvt|280|kg}}
| dimensions        = {{cvt|1|xx|2.5|m}}
| power             = 290 [[watt]]s

| launch_date       = 28 April 2003, 11:59:57 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]<ref name="Display"/>
| launch_rocket     = [[Pegasus (rocket)|Pegasus XL]] (F33)
| launch_site       = [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station|Cape Canaveral]], ''[[Stargazer (aircraft)|Stargazer]]''
| launch_contractor = [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]]

| entered_service   = 28 May 2003 <ref name="JPL"/>
| deactivated       = 28 June 2013, 19:09 UTC <ref name="Decommission"/>
| last_contact      = 28 June 2013
| decay_date        = 2068 (planned)

| orbit_reference   = [[Geocentric orbit]]<ref name="Trajectory"/>
| orbit_regime      = [[Low Earth orbit]]
| orbit_periapsis   = {{cvt|691|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis    = {{cvt|697|km}}
| orbit_inclination = 29.00°
| orbit_period      = 98.60 minutes
| orbit_rev_number  = 85423
| apsis             = gee

| instruments       = Ultraviolet telescope

| telescope_type         = [[Ritchey–Chrétien telescope|Ritchey–Chrétien]]<ref name="Display"/>
| telescope_diameter     = {{cvt|50|cm}}
| telescope_focal_length = f/6.0
| telescope_wavelength   = 135–280 [[Nanometre|nm]] ([[Ultraviolet]])

| insignia          = 
| insignia_caption  = 
| insignia_size     = 200px

| programme         = '''Explorer program'''
| previous_mission  = [[CHIPS (satellite)|CHIPS]] (Explorer 82)
| next_mission      = [[Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory]] (Explorer 84)
}}

'''Galaxy Evolution Explorer''' ('''GALEX''' or '''Explorer 83''' or '''SMEX-7''') was a [[NASA]] orbiting space telescope designed to observe the [[universe]] in [[ultraviolet]] [[wavelength]]s to measure the history of [[star formation]] in the universe. In addition to paving the way for future ultraviolet missions, the space telescope allowed astronomers to uncover mysteries about the early universe and how it evolved, as well as better characterize phenomena like [[black hole]]s and [[dark matter]]. The mission was extended three times over a period of 10 years before it was decommissioned in June 2013. GALEX was launched on 28 April 2003 and decommissioned in June 2013.<ref name="Display">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-017A|title=Display: GALEX (Explorer 83) 2003-017A |publisher=NASA|date=28 October 2021|access-date=3 December 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>