Miranda (X 4)

Miranda

Miranda, also known as X-4 satellite, was an experimental spacecraft. It was designed to serve as an engineering test bed to check the application of a three-axis integrating gyro system for attitude control and a three-axis rate gyro system for rate control. The satellite was in the form of a box 83.5 cm high, with a square base 66.5 cm on a side. Electrical power to the spacecraft was supplied from batteries and solar panels. When fully deployed the panels measured 250 cm in length. The payload package consisted of:

• a three-axis propane gas jet system for orbital positioning;
• a Canopus star sensor to determine reflectivity and interference generated from the propane gas system;
• an Earth albedo sensor;
• (radiation) test cells to measure degradation in orbit; and,
• four infrared detectors to provide eclipse warning for experiment number two.

It was originally planned to be launched on a british Black Arrow booster, but due to cancellation of the launcher program it was finally launched by a Scout-D1.