SOLRAD 10

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]

Solrad 10
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]
 

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. "Solrad 10". NSSDCA. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Retrieved 19 June 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  3. "EXPLORER 44 (SOLRAD-10)". n2yo.com. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  4. Peat, Chris. "Solrad 10 - Orbit". Heavens-Above GmbH. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  5. Wade, Mark (2017). "Solrad". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
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