00:00On this day, in space.
00:03On January 26th, 1978,
00:06the International Ultraviolet Explorer launched into orbit
00:09on a mission to study ultraviolet light emitted by stars and other bright objects in the universe.
00:13Because a lot of that UV light is absorbed by Earth's ozone layer,
00:17astronomers needed a space-based observatory to look at it.
00:20The IUE mission allowed astronomers to study hot bright stars,
00:23active galactic nuclei, supernova explosions, and more.
00:27The mission was a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency,
00:31and it lasted more than 18 years before budget cuts led to its decommissioning.
00:35The derelict satellite is still in orbit around the Earth today.
00:38And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:41♪
Comments