The objective of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) is to produce an unbiased all-sky survey in the wavelength region between 8 and 120 um. Using a 60 cm diameter helium cooled telescope and detector arrays which are essentially zodiacal light background photon noise limited, heretofore unprecedented sensitivity can be achieved. The optical design, the focal plane layout and expected performance of the current design concept are discussed.
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Aumann et al. (1977) studied this question.