Thc Widc-Ficld Infrared Explorer (WIRE) is a Small Explorer (SMEX) mission that will fly in the fall of 1998. The WIRE In SSJOfl OOSCS tO conduct a 4-month survey of more than 100 degree2 of sky using I 2-and 25-jtm detectors. The instrumcnt requires cryogenic cooling of iLS focal planes (<7.5 K) and telescope (<18 K) in order to achieve the required performance sensitivity. In addition, because of the SMEX nature of the experiment, the mass of the cryostat must be less than t() kg. The ITflOSL mass efficient system meeting the lifetime requirement was determined to be a dual stage HJ H2 cryosLat. The føci1 planes arc conduciivcly cooled by the primary H2 (6.76 K) while the telescope is cooled by the secondzir H2 (1 2 K). The secondary H2 also protects the primary H2 by intercepting the parasitic heat loads. This paper dcscrihcs the dcsiizn and performance of the Hil H2 cryostat.
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