Astronomy:SOLRAD 10

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Solrad 10
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Solrad 10.
Mission typeHeliophysics
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1971-058A[1]
SATCAT no.5317
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerNaval Research Laboratory
Launch mass260 kilograms (570 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateJuly 8, 1971, 22:58 (1971-07-08UTC22:58Z) UTC[2]
RocketScout B S177C
Launch siteWallops LA-3A[2]
End of mission
Decay date15 December 1979 (1979-12-16)[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Eccentricity0.0006626[4]
Perigee altitude204 kilometers (127 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude213 kilometers (132 mi)[4]
Inclination51.0598°[4]
RAAN328.0487°[4]
Argument of perigee235.3867°[4]
Mean anomaly124.4027°[4]
Mean motion16.23884333[4]
Epoch13 December 1979[4]
Revolution no.46942[4]
Explorers
 
Solrad
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Solrad 10, also known Explorer 44, NRL-PL 165 and Explorer SE-C, was one of the SOLRAD series designed to provide continuous coverage of wavelength and intensity changes in solar radiation in the UV, soft and hard X-ray regions. The satellite also mapped the celestial sphere using a high-sensitivity X-ray detector.[1]

Launch

Solrad 10 was launched on 8 July 1971 from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, with a Scout rocket. When it was launched, it had an orbit with 630 kilometres (390 mi) of apogee, 436 kilometres (271 mi) of perigee, 51.1 degrees of orbital inclination and 1 hour and 35 minutes of orbital period.[1][5]

Spacecraft

Solrad 10 was a 12-sided cylinder that measured 76 centimetres (30 in) in diameter and 58 centimetres (23 in) in height. Four symmetrically placed 17.8 by 53.3 centimetres (7.0 in × 21.0 in) solar cell panels, hinged at the central section of the structure, served as the elements of a turnstile antenna system. 18 solar sensors were mounted pointing parallel to the spin axis of the satellite, which pointed directly at the solar disk. The plane of rotation shifted about 1°/day so that a stellar detector mounted to point radially outward from the axis scanned the celestial sphere. Data from all detectors were stored in a 54 kbs core memory and telemetered on command to the NRL Satellite Operations Center at Blossom Point, Maryland. Data were also transmitted in real time at 137.710 MHz.[1]

Solrad 10 decayed and returned to the Earth on December 15, 1979.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Solrad 10". NSSDCA. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-058A. Retrieved 19 June 2018.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. 2.0 2.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. http://www.planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt. Retrieved 19 June 2018. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "EXPLORER 44 (SOLRAD-10)". n2yo.com. http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=5317. Retrieved 19 June 2018. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Peat, Chris. "Solrad 10 - Orbit". Heavens-Above GmbH. https://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=5317&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=UCT. Retrieved 19 June 2018. 
  5. Wade, Mark (2017). "Solrad". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/s/solrad.html. Retrieved 19 June 2018. 

External links