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OV4 3
OV4 3 [GDK]
The OV4-3 (Orbiting Vehicle 4-3) payload consisted mainly of a Titan-1 oxidizer tank representing the shape and aerodynamics of the planned MOL (Manned Orbital Laboratoy). It was fixed to the Transtage, so its dimension ammounted to a lenght of 17.5 m. Also 680 kg of technology experiments, called project "Manifold", were added to the oxidizer tank:
- 2 Micrometeroite detectors,
- ORBIS-Low beacon,
- biological cell grow experiment,
- H2/O2 fuelcell,
- experimental thermal control system,
- acoustic fuel monitoring system,
- dummy attitude control system.
The satellite was spin stabilized after Transtage shutdown. On the upper end, a Gemini B capsule was mounted during launch and released on a suborbital trajectory. Also inside the Gemini B adapter were three small satellites: OV1 6, OV4 1R and OV4 1T. OV4-3 worked for 30 days (75 days were planned).
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Experimental |
| Operator: | US Air Force (USAF) |
| Contractors: | Martin Marietta |
| Equipment: | see above |
| Configuration: | Titan-1 oxidizer tank fixed on Transtage |
| Propulsion: | none after Transtage shutdown |
| Power: | Batteries |
| Lifetime: | 75 days (planned), 30 days operational |
| Mass: | 9680 kg |
| Orbit: | 298 km × 305 km, 32.82° |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OV4 3 (MOL Mockup, OPS 0855) | 1966-099A | 03.11.1966 | CC LC-40 | Titan-3C | with OV1 6, OV4 1R, OV4 1T, Gemini 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:
