Gridsphere 1, 2 (left and right) [USAF]
The Gridspheres were experimental passive communications satellites (part of the AVL-802 experiment), which were to overcome the drag problems of balloon satellites. They were a follow on to the OV1 8 / PasComSat experiment. The Gridspheres consisted of wire mesh, whish was embedded in a photolyzable balloon. After inflation in space, the UV radiation causes the ballon to vaporize, leaving a wire frame in spherical shape. This gridsphere reflects radio waves as good as a aluminized balloon, but has much less atmospherical drag and a longer orbital life. The pairs Gridspheres differed in having different spaced wire mesh.
The AVL-802 experiment contained also an aluminized Mylar Balloon of the same size to compare the reflection properties and the drag of the Gridspheres with a real balloon. Also included was Rigidsphere, a passive spherical satellite for atmospheric drag measurements.
The first attempt to orbit the AVL-802 experiment failed, but it was successfully repeated 3 years later.
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Experimental |
Operator: | US Air Force (USAF) STP (Space Test Program) |
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Propulsion: | |
Power: | None |
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Orbit: | 778 km × 914 km, 87.63° (#1); 778 km × 913 km, 87.63° (#2) |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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Gridsphere (1) (AVL-802 Sphere 7-1, P68-1) | 1968-F07 | 16.08.1968 | Va SLC-3E | F | Atlas-SLV3 Burner-2 | with Orbiscal 1, OV5 8, Gridsphere 2, Mylar Balloon, Rigidsphere, LCS 3, LIDOS, RM 18 & UVR, Radcat, SECOR 11, SECOR 12 |
Gridsphere (2) (AVL-802 Sphere 7-2, P68-1) | 1968-F07 | 16.08.1968 | Va SLC-3E | F | Atlas-SLV3 Burner-2 | with Orbiscal 1, OV5 8, Gridsphere 1, Mylar Balloon, Rigidsphere, LCS 3, LIDOS, RM 18 & UVR, Radcat, SECOR 11, SECOR 12 |
Gridsphere 1 (AVL-802 Sphere 7-1, P70-2) | 1971-067H | 07.08.1971 | Va BMRS-A2 | Atlas-F OV1 [Star-13A] | with OV1 20, LOADS 2 and OV1 21, RTDS, Gridsphere 2, Mylar Balloon, Rigidsphere, LCS 4 | |
Gridsphere 2 (AVL-802 Sphere 7-2, P70-2) | 1971-067G | 07.08.1971 | Va BMRS-A2 | Atlas-F OV1 [Star-13A] | with OV1 20, LOADS 2 and OV1 21, RTDS, Gridsphere 1, Mylar Balloon, Rigidsphere, LCS 4 |
Further AVL-802 missions:
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Further STP missions:
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