Editing Infrared Space Observatory (section)

== History and development ==

In 1983, the US-Dutch-British IRAS inaugurated space-based [[infrared astronomy]] by performing the first-ever 'all-sky survey' at infrared [[wavelength]]s. The resulting map of the infrared sky pinpointed some 350,000 infrared sources waiting to be explored by IRAS' successors. In 1979, IRAS was in an advanced stage of planning and the expected results from IRAS led to the first proposal for ISO made to ESA in the same year. With the rapid improvements in infrared detector-technology, ISO was to provide detailed [[Observational astronomy|observations]] for some 30,000 infrared sources with much improved [[Sensitivity (electronics)|sensitivity]] and [[Angular resolution|resolution]]. ISO was to perform 1000 times better in sensitivity and 100 times better in angular resolution at 12 micrometres compared to IRAS.

A number of follow-up studies resulted in the selection of ISO as the next installment for the ESA Scientific Programme in 1983. Next came a '''Call for Experiment and Mission Scientist Proposals''' to the scientific community, resulting in the selection of the [[scientific instrument]]s in 1985. The four instruments chosen were developed by teams of researchers from France, Germany, the Netherlands and United Kingdom.

[[Engineering|Design]] and development of the [[satellite]] started in 1986 with [[Aérospatiale]]'s space division (currently absorbed into [[Thales Alenia Space]]) leading an international [[consortium]] of 32 companies responsible for [[Manufacturing|manufacture]], [[System integration|integration]] and testing of the new satellite. Final assembly took place at the [[Cannes Mandelieu Space Center]].