Transit-5E 2

Transit-5E 2 [JHU/APL]

Three Transit-5B series satellites were launched by Thor-DSV2A Able-Star rockets with piggyback Transit-5E series research satellites. The 5E series were launched to obtain environmental data in the vicinity of the operational orbit of Transit satellites and used solar power. The Transit-5Es, which reached orbit, yielded excelent data.

This series was built on Transit busses based on the Transit 5A series.

Transit-5E 2 featured following systems:

• Two oven-controlled oscillators
• Transmitters: 136 (TM), 162, and 324 MHz
• Solar cell experiments
• Transistor reliability experiment
• 3600 solid angle heliogoniometer (digital solar attitude sensing system)
• Three axis analog solar detection
• Rubidium vapor magnetometer
• Three axis fluxgate magnetometer
• Ultraviolet telescopes (2)
• Omnidirectional particle detectors (2)
• Power: Solar cells/Ni-Cd batteries (tapped)
• Command system: Eight on/off commands
• Telemetry system: Two 35 channel commutators with some subcormutation of analog information plus 256-bit digital encoder
• Whip and dipole antenna system.

The objectives of Transit-5E 2 were:

1. Map, to a high accuracy, the earth's magnetic field at orbital altitude.
2. Map the celestial sphere in the ultraviolet region.
3. Demonstrate satisfactory operation of a new digital solar attitude detection system.
4. Determine sublimation rates of cadmium, mag
nesium, and silver-plated cadmium.

This satellite failed to orbit and no useful data were obtained. Prior to reentry, Satellite Transit-5BN-3 separated from 5E-2 and the 5E-2 solar blades deployed normally. Satellite 5E-2 systems operation prior to reentry was normal.