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).