Echo 2 [NASA]
The Echo 2 spacecraft was a 41-m balloon of aluminum foil-mylar laminate. Echo 2 was designed as a rigidized passive communications spacecraft for testing propagation, tracking, and communication techniques. Instrumentation included a beacon telemetry system that provided a tracking signal, monitored spacecraft skin temperature between -120° C and +16° C, and measured the internal pressure of the spacecraft between 5E-5 mm of mercury and 0.5 mm of mercury, especially during the initial inflation stages. This system, which consisted of two beacon assemblies, used solar cell panels for power and had a minimum power output of 45 mW at 136.17 MHz and 136.02 MHz.
Befor the orbital flight was made, two suborbital tests called Big Shot were made. Big Shot 1 failed, when the balloon ruptured during inflation.
In addition to fulfilling its communications mission, the spacecraft was used for global geometric geodesy. The spacecraft re-entered the atmosphere on 7 June 1969.
Nation: | USA |
---|---|
Type / Application: | Communication, passive |
Operator: | NASA |
Contractors: | G. T. Schjeldahl Co. (Balloon); Kaiser-Fleetwings Co. (Container) |
Equipment: | Beacon transmitters |
Configuration: | Balloon, 41 m |
Propulsion: | None |
Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
Lifetime: | |
Mass: | 256 kg |
Orbit: | 1029 km × 1316 km, 81.5° |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVT 1 (Big Shot 1) | N/A | 15.01.1962 | CC LC-17A | * | Thor-DSV2D | |
AVT 2 (Big Shot 2) | N/A | 18.07.1962 | CC LC-17A | * | Thor-DSV2D | |
Echo 2 (Echo C) | 1964-004A | 25.01.1964 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DM21 Agena-B |
* = suborbital test