Engineering:Explorer 37
| Names | SOLRAD 9 Solar Explorer-B |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Solar science |
| Operator | NASA / NRL |
| COSPAR ID | 1968-017A |
| SATCAT no. | 03141 |
| Mission duration | 6 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Explorer XXXVII |
| Spacecraft type | Solar Explorer-B |
| Bus | SOLRAD |
| Manufacturer | Naval Research Laboratory |
| Launch mass | 198 kg (437 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 5 March 1968, 18:28:00 GMT[1] |
| Rocket | Scout B (S-160C) |
| Launch site | Wallops Flight Facility, LA-3 |
| Contractor | Vought |
| Entered service | 5 March 1968 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 25 February 1974 |
| Decay date | 16 November 1990 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[2] |
| Regime | Circular orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 448 km (278 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 638 km (396 mi) |
| Inclination | 59.40° |
| Period | 95.50 minutes |
| Instruments | |
| Solar Radiation Detectors | |
Explorer program | |
Explorer 37, also SOLRAD 9 or Solar Explorer-B, was a NASA satellite was one of the SOLRAD (Solar Radiation) program that began in 1960 to provide continuous coverage of solar radiation with a set of standard photometers. Explorer 37 was a spin-stabilized satellite oriented with its spin axis perpendicular to the Sun-satellite line so that the 14 solar X-ray, and ultraviolet photometers pointing radially outward from its equatorial belt viewed the Sun on each revolution. Data were transmitted in real time by means of an FM / AM the satellite's telemetry system and recorded in a core memory that read out its contents on command. Individual scientists and institutions were invited to receive and use the data transmitted on the 136-MHz telemetry band on the standard Inter-Range Instrumentation Group (IRIG) channels 3 through 8. For the period of July 1971 to June 1973, the core memory data of Explorer 44 (SOLRAD 10) were used rather than those from Explorer 37 (SOLRAD 9). The Explorer 44 (SOLRAD 10) core memory failed on 11 June 1973, and Explorer 37 (SOLRAD 9) was heavily used until 25 February 1974, when the gas supply of the attitude control system was exhausted. Lacking attitude control, Explorer 37 (SOLRAD 9) was operationally useless and was turned off.[3]
Launch
Expkorer 37 was launched on 5 March 1968, at 18:28:00 GMT,[1] from Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), of the LA-3, Virginia, with Scout B launch vehicle.[3]
Experiment
Solar Radiation Detectors
This experiment consisted of 14 detectors covering the ranges 20 to 80 keV, 0.5 to 60 A, and 1080 to 1350 A. The detectors were designed to measure wavelength and flux shifts of solar radiation during periods of low and high solar activity. The detectors were standardized photometers similar to those flown on Explorer 30 (SOLRAD 8). Data from three pairs of these detectors, covering the range 0.5 to 16 A, were stored in the onboard memory to provide full time coverage, while the other data were transmitted in real time only (real-time data were recorded for at least 10 minutes per orbit). The ultraviolet and 20- to 80-keV detectors failed shortly after launch.[4]
Atmospheric entry
Explorer 37 (SOLRAD 9) returned to the atmosphere, disintegrating on 16 November 1990.[2]
See also
- Explorer 30
- Explorer program
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. 21 July 2021. https://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Trajectory: Explorer 37 (SOLRAD 9) 1968-017A". NASA. 28 October 2021. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1968-017A.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Display: Explorer 37 (SOLRAD 9) 1968-017A". NASA. 28 October 2021. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-017A. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Experiment: Solar Radiation Detectors". NASA. 28 October 2021. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1968-017A-01. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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