ESRO 1A, 1B (Aurorae, Boreas)

ESRO 1A (Aurorae) [ESA]

ESRO-1A / Aurorae (European Space Research Organisation) was a 80 kg, cylindrically shaped, solar-cell-powered spacecraft instrumented with seven scientific experiments chosen to measure a comprehensive range of auroral effects. The measurements include auroral luminosity, ionospheric composition and temperature, and the flux, type and energy spectra of trapped and precipitated energetic particles (electrons of energies 1 to 30,000 keV. The spacecraft was placed in a low polar orbit with its axis of symmetry magnetically aligned along the earth's field. It had operated satisfactorily for 18 months, except for the tape recorder which failed after 7 months.  

ESRO 1B / Boreas conducted correlative studies with the identical satellite ESRO 1A / Aurorae.

Its experiements were:

• Trapped and Precipitated Electron Flux and Energy Spectra
• High Latitude Particle Electrostatic Analyzer
• Trapped and Precipitated Proton Spectra
• Pitch Angle Distribution of Electrons and Protons
• Flux and Energy Spectra of Solar Protons
• Auroral Photometers
• Langmuir Probe
• Ion Composition and Temperature