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OV3
OV3 [USAF]
The OV3 (Orbiting Vehicle 3) series were experimental satellites based on an octagonal bus structure. These were the only in the OV series launched on dedicated launchers.
Payloads:
- OV3 1: Radiation belt particle and fields experiments (reflights of OV2 1 experiments)
- OV3 2: Low energy radiation belt particles experiments, mass spectrometer, parallel plate retarding-potential analyser, electrostatic analyser, Langmuir probe, triaxial magnetometer
- OV3 3: Radiation belt particle and fields experiments, Faraday cup, 2 directional telescopes, 3 spectrometers, magnetometer, VLF receiver (reflights of OV2 1 experiments)
- OV3 4: 6 Tissue equicalent ion chambers, 2 five-channell spectrometers, 2 charged particle spectrometers, magnetometer
- OV3 5: 2 mass spectrometers (neutal and ionised atmospheric particles), 3 cold cathode ionisation gauges, 2 boom mounted rf impedance probes
- OV3 6: 2 mass spectrometers (neutal and ionised atmospheric particles), 3 cold cathode ionisation gauges, 2 boom mounted rf impedance probes
OV3 4 was also called PHASR (Personal Hazards Associated with Space Radiation) and OV3 5 and OV3 6 were called ATCOS (Atmospheric Composition Satellite).
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Experimental |
| Operator: | US Air Force (USAF) |
| Contractors: | Aerojet (#1 - 4); AFCRL (#5 - 6) |
| Equipment: | see above |
| Configuration: | Aerojet GUS (General Utility Satellite) |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: | 350 km × 5736 km, 82.45° (#1); 316 km × 1588 km, 81.97° (#2); 358 km × 4479 km, 81.47° (#3); 643 km × 4730 km, 40.83° (#4); 403 km × 434 km, 90.66° (#6) |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OV3 1 | 1966-034A | 22.04.1966 | Va PALC-D | Scout-B | ||
| OV3 2 | 1966-097A | 28.10.1966 | Va SLC-5 | Scout-B | ||
| OV3 3 | 1966-070A | 04.08.1966 | Va SLC-5 | Scout-B | ||
| OV3 4 (PHASR) | 1966-052A | 10.06.1966 | WI LA-3 | Scout-B | ||
| OV3 5 (ATCOS 1) | 1967-F01 | 31.01.1967 | Va SLC-5 | F | Scout-B | |
| OV3 6 (ATCOS 2) | 1967-120A | 05.12.1967 | Va SLC-5 | Scout-B |
References:
- Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles: Orbiting Vehicle (OV)
- J. W. Powell and G. R. Richards, “The Orbiting Vehicle series of satellites”, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, Volume 40, pp.417-426, 1987.
Further OV missions:
