Vanguard 3 [NASA]
Vanguard 3 [NASA] |
Vanguard 3 was launched by a modified Vanguard
rocket from the Eastern Test Range into a geocentric orbit. The objectives of the flight
were to measure the earth's magnetic field, the solar X-ray radiation and its effects on
the earth's atmosphere, and the near-earth micrometeoroid environment. Instrumentation
included a proton magnetometer, X-ray ionization chambers, and various micrometeoroid
detectors. The spacecraft was a 50.8-cm-diameter magnesium sphere. The magnetometer was
housed in a glass fiber phenolic resin conical tube attached to the sphere. Data
transmission stopped on December 11, 1959, after 84 days of operation. The data obtained
provided a comprehensive survey of the earth's magnetic field over the area covered,
defined the lower edge of the Van Allen radiation belt, and provided a count of
micrometeoroid impacts. Vanguard 3 has an expected orbital lifetime of 300 yr.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Science |
| Operator: | NASA |
| Contractors: | |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | |
| Propulsion: | |
| Lifetime: | 84 days |
| Mass: | 23 kg |
| Orbit: | 512 km x 3744 km, 33.3° |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launcher | Remarks: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard 3 (20in Magnetometer, X-Ray, Env. #1) | 18.09.1959 | CC LC-18A | P | Vanguard (mod) |
| Further Vanguard missions: |
Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs