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Transit-5E 2 (S/N 40)

Transit-5E 2 [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 2 featured following systems:

  • Two oven-controlled oscillators
  • Transmitters: 136 (TM), 162, and 324 MHz
  • Solar cell experiments
  • Transistor reliability experiment
  • 3600 solid angle heliogoniometer (digital solar attitude sensing system)
  • Three axis analog solar detection
  • Rubidium vapor magnetometer
  • Three axis fluxgate magnetometer
  • Ultraviolet telescopes (2)
  • Omnidirectional particle detectors (2)
  • Power: Solar cells/Ni-Cd batteries (tapped)
  • Command system: Eight on/off commands
  • Telemetry system: Two 35 channel commutators with some subcormutation of analog information plus 256-bit digital encoder
  • Whip and dipole antenna system.

The objectives of Transit-5E 2 were:

  1. Map, to a high accuracy, the earth's magnetic field at orbital altitude.
  2. Map the celestial sphere in the ultraviolet region.
  3. Demonstrate satisfactory operation of a new digital solar attitude detection system.
  4. Determine sublimation rates of cadmium, magnesium, and silver-plated cadmium.

This satellite failed to orbit and no useful data were obtained. Prior to reentry, Satellite Transit-5BN-3 separated from 5E-2 and the 5E-2 solar blades deployed normally. Satellite 5E-2 systems operation prior to reentry was normal.

Nation: USA
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:
Mass: 70 kg
Orbit:
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Transit-5E 2 (S/N 40) 1964-F06 21.04.1964 Va 75-1-1 F Thor-DSV2A Able-Star with Transit-5BN 3

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