Transit-5E 1 [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 1 featured following systems:
The objectives of Transit-5E 1 were:
All 5E-1 launch objectives were met, and the satellite continues to yield excellent data on high-energy particles. Studies thus far completed include:
The solar science experiments have contributed materially to numerous studies concerned with the solar spectrum and long and short term variations in solar intensity. Solar data have facilitated development and calibration of solar simulators and have aided in the development of improved solar cell protection devices.
The transistor reliability study included accurate measurements on the effect of radiation on the performance of selected transistors in orbit, and also provided degradation data that were in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions of the electron density which would produce the observed degradation. The measurements also complemented data received from the electron spectrometer experiment.
Satellite 5E-1 fluxgate magnetometer data were used in the detection of one component of transverse hydromagnetic waves. The studies thus far have shown that: (1) the waves appear primarily in the auroral regions; (2) the magnitudes vary between 25 gamma (the lower limit of fluxgate sensitivity) to about 400 gamma, representing about one percent of the main field at the satellite altitude (1 gamma = 10- 5 gauss); and (3) more than 100 disturbances have been found. Satellite 5E-1 provided excellent geodetic data; the satellite longevity resulted in the fulfillment of Objective No. 5.
The 162 MHz transmitter failed on 19 March 1964 and the resultant load change has since allowed only limited operation in battery mode. However, the major satellite experiments were not seriously affected.
Satellite 5E-1 has become one of the most productive satellites ever launched. Data were acquired routinely for over six years and the satellite has functioned for a full solar cycle (11 years).
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Experimental |
Operator: | USN |
Contractors: | Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) |
Equipment: | ? |
Configuration: | Transit-Bus |
Propulsion: | ? |
Power: | 4 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
Lifetime: | +11 years (achieved) |
Mass: | 59 kg |
Orbit: | 1078 km × 1129 km, 89.9° |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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Transit-5E 1 (S/N 39) | 1963-038C | 28.09.1963 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DSV2A Able-Star | with Transit-5BN 1 |