Explorer 13 (S 55a) [NASA]
Explorer 13 (S 55a) [NASA] |
The purpose of the S-55 series were to test vehicle performance and guidance and to
investigate the nature and effects of micrometeoroids on the spacecraft systems. The
cylindrically shaped spacecraft, about 61 cm in diameter and 192-cm long, was built around
the burned-out fourth stage of the Scout launch vehicle that remained as part of the
orbiting satellite. They carried stainless steel pressurized-cell penetration detectors,
impact detectors, capacitor detectors, and cadmium sulfide cell detectors to obtain data
on the size, number, distribution, and momentum of dust particles in the near-earth
environment.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Research, Micrometeorites |
| Operator: | NASA |
| Contractors: | |
| Equipment: | Micrometeorites detectors |
| Configuration: | |
| Propulsion: | none |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 86 kg (#13); 108 kg (#16); 134 kg (#23) |
| Orbit: | 125 km x 1164 km, 37.70° (#13); 750 km x 1181 km, 52.01° (#16); 466 km x 977 km, 51.95° (#23) |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launcher | Remarks: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer (12) (S 55) | 30.06.1961 | WI LA-3 | F | Scout-X1 | |
| Explorer 13 (S 55a) | 25.08.1961 | WI LA-3 | P | Scout-X1 | |
| Explorer 16 (S 55b) | 16.12.1962 | WI LA-3 | Scout-X3 | ||
| Explorer 23 (S 55c) | 06.11.1964 | WI LA-3 | Scout-X4 |
| Further Explorer missions: |
Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs