Dragsphere [NRL]
The two Dragsphere satellites were small passive satellites to measure the effects of atmospheric drag.
Both spheres had the same geometric dimensions, but had a different mass. Dragsphere 1 had a mass of only 0.9 kg, while Dragsphere 2 had a mass of 9.5 kg. They were launched piggy-back with Transit-O 1 into 1000 km orbit.
After 30 years, the orbit of the more massive Dragsphere 2 remained nearly unchanged, while the light Dragsphere 1 orbit was lowered by about 50 km.
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Air density research |
Operator: | Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) |
Contractors: | Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) |
Equipment: | None |
Configuration: | Sphere |
Propulsion: | None |
Power: | None |
Lifetime: | Passive |
Mass: | 0.9 kg (#1); 9.5 kg (#2) |
Orbit: | 1054 km × 1084 km, 89.93° (#1); 1056 km × 1086 km, 89.97° |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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Dragsphere 1 | 1964-063C | 06.10.1964 | Va 75-1-2 | Thor-DSV2A Able-Star | with Transit-O 1, Dragsphere 2 | |
Dragsphere 2 | 1964-063E | 06.10.1964 | Va 75-1-2 | Thor-DSV2A Able-Star | with Transit-O 1, Dragsphere 1 |