Astronomy:Explorer 19
| Mission type | Earth science |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1963-053A |
| SATCAT no. | 714 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Langley Research Center |
| Launch mass | 7.7 kilograms (17 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | December 19, 1963, 18:49:25 UTC |
| Rocket | Scout X-4 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg Air Force Base LA-3 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | May 10, 1981 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Eccentricity | 0.11454 |
| Perigee altitude | 590 kilometers (370 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 2,394 kilometers (1,488 mi) |
| Inclination | 78.6° |
| Period | 115.9 minutes |
| Epoch | December 19, 1963 |
Explorers | |
Explorer 19 was an United States satellite launched on December 19, 1963, as part of NASA's Explorers program. It was the third of six identical Explorer satellites launched to study air density and composition, and the second to reach orbit.[1] It was identical to Explorer 9.[2]
Explorer 9 was still operational when Explorer 19 was launched, allowing simultaneous readings to be taken and compared. The spacecraft consisted of alternating layers of aluminium foil and Mylar polyester film. Uniformly distributed over the aluminium surface were 5.1 cm-diameter dots of white paint for thermal control. The sphere was packed in a tube 21.6 cm in diameter and 48.3 cm long and mounted in the nose of the fourth stage of the launch vehicle. Upon separation of the fourth stage, the sphere was inflated by a nitrogen gas bottle, and a separation spring ejected it out into its own orbit. The two hemispheres of aluminium foil were separated with a gap of Mylar at the spacecraft's equator and served as the antenna. A 136 MHz, 15 mW beacon was carried for tracking purposes, but the beacon failed on the first orbit and the SAO Baker-Nunn camera network had to be relied upon for tracking. Power was supplied by solar cells and rechargeable batteries.[3]
Explorer 19's launch vehicle, a Scout X-4, placed it into a slightly lower than planned orbit.[2]
References
- ↑ Smith, Woody. "Explorer Spacecraft Series". NASA History Division. https://history.nasa.gov/explorer.html. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Explorer:AD". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/explorer_ad.htm.
- ↑ "NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1961-004A". NASA. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1963-053A. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links
- NASA FACTS - EXPLORER XIX. (PDF)
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