Rank 44 documents GALEX — Galaxy Evolution Explorer — the Explorer Program mission that produced the first comprehensive ultraviolet survey of the entire sky from space. Launched 28 April 2003 via Pegasus XL air launch from Stargazer L-1011 aircraft over the Atlantic, the 280 kg spacecraft carried a 50 cm Ritchey-Chrétien telescope with UV grism spectrograph and microchannel plate detectors in a 697 km circular orbit. Caltech and NASA JPL teams mapped star-forming regions, galaxy morphology in UV, and hot stellar populations invisible to optical surveys — complementing SDSS visible data and later infrared missions. GALEX revealed ultraviolet rings in nearby galaxies like Andromeda and traced cosmic star-formation history across billions of years. Decommissioned 2013 after a decade of operations, its public image archive remains a foundation for astrophysics education. Wallimilist renders GALEX with UV all-sky map, spiral galaxy, and Pegasus-era Explorer patch exactly as the master PNG dictates — 2003 air-launch kicker, cream-navy-gold palette, and curator copy on ultraviolet survey heritage.