Astronomy:Explorer 23
 S-55 model | |
| Mission type | Earth science |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1964-074A[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 924 |
| Mission duration | 1 year |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Launch mass | 133.8 kg (295 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 6 November 1964, 12:00 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Scout X-1 |
| Launch site | Wallops LA-3 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 7 November 1965 |
| Decay date | 29 June 1983 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Eccentricity | 0.0294[1] |
| Perigee altitude | 451 km (280 mi)[1] |
| Apogee altitude | 865 km (537 mi)[1] |
| Inclination | 51.90°[1] |
| Period | 97.9 minutes[1] |
| Epoch | 6 November 1964[1] |
Explorers | |
Explorer 23 (also called S-55C) was the last of three S-55 micrometeoroid United States satellites launched as part of NASA's Explorers program. Its purpose was to obtain data on the near-earth meteoroid environment, thus providing an accurate estimate of the probability of penetration in spacecraft structures by meteoroids and allowing a more confident definition of the penetration flux-material thickness relation to be derived.
The cylindrically shaped spacecraft, about 61 by 234 centimetres (24 in × 92 in), was built around the burned out fourth stage of the Scout launch vehicle, which remained as part of the orbiting satellite. Explorer 23 carried stainless steel pressurized-cell penetration detectors, impact detectors, and cadmium sulfide cell detectors to obtain data on the size, number, distribution, and momentum of dust particles in the near-earth environment. In addition, the spacecraft was designed to provide data on the effects of the space environment on the operation of capacitor penetration detectors and solar cell power supplies. The spacecraft mass, neglecting the fourth stage vehicle hardware and motor, was 96.4 kilograms (213 lb).
The spacecraft operated satisfactorily during its 1-year life (November 6, 1964, through November 7, 1965), and all mission objectives were accomplished, except for the cadmium sulfide cell detector experiment, which was damaged on liftoff and provided no data.[1]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "S 55C". NSSDC Master Catalog. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-074A.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. http://www.planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt/. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
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