SOLRAD 10

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Solrad 10
Solrad 10.jpg
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 kb 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[]

  • Solrad 9

References[]

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

External links[]

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