Explorer 31: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|NASA satellite of the Explorer program}} |
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{{more footnotes|date=June 2018}} |
{{more footnotes|date=June 2018}} |
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{{Use American English|date=November 2021}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} |
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{{Infobox spaceflight |
{{Infobox spaceflight |
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| name |
| name = Explorer 31 |
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| names_list = DME-A<br/>Direct Measurement Explorer-A |
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| image = Explorer 31 (DME A).jpg |
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| ⚫ | |||
| image_size = 300px |
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| mission_type |
| mission_type = [[Earth science]] |
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| operator |
| operator = [[NASA]] |
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| COSPAR_ID = 1965-098B |
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| ⚫ | |||
| SATCAT |
| SATCAT = 01806 |
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| mission_duration |
| mission_duration = 5 years (achieved) |
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| spacecraft = Explorer XXXI |
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| spacecraft_bus = |
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| manufacturer = |
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| launch_mass = {{convert|98.9|kg|lb|abbr=on}} |
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| launch_mass = {{cvt|98.9|kg}} |
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| power = |
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| launch_date |
| launch_date = 29 November 1965, 04:48:47 [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] <ref name="launchlog">{{cite web|url=https://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|publisher=Jonathan's Space Report|date=21 July 2021|access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref> |
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| launch_rocket |
| launch_rocket = [[Thor-Agena|Thor SLV-2 Agena B]] ( |
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| launch_site |
| launch_site = [[Vandenberg Space Force Base|Vandenberg]], [[Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2|SLC-2E]] |
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| launch_contractor = |
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| entered_service = 29 November 1965 |
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| last_contact = {{end-date|15 January 1971}} |
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| last_contact = 15 January 1971 |
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| destroyed = |
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| decay_date = |
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| orbit_epoch = 29 November 1965<ref name="nssdc"/> |
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| orbit_regime = [[Low Earth orbit]] |
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| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|505|km}} |
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| orbit_regime = [[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]] |
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| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|2978|km}} |
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| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|2,978|km|mi|sp=us}}<ref name="nssdc"/> |
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| apsis = gee |
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| orbit_eccentricity = 0.15219<ref name="nssdc"/> |
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| ⚫ | |||
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| instruments = Cylindrical Electrostatic Probes<br/>Electron Temperature<br/>Energetic Electron Current Monitor<br/>Ion Mass Spectrometer<br/>Magnetic Ion-Mass Spectrometer<br/>Thermal Electron Probe<br/>Thermal Ion Probe |
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| programme = ''[[Explorers program|Explorers]]'' |
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| programme = '''Explorer program''' |
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| previous_mission = [[Explorer 30]] |
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| next_mission = [[Explorer 32]] |
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}} |
}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Explorer 31''' |
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| ⚫ | '''Explorer 31''', also called '''DME-A''', was a NASA [[satellite]] launched as part of the [[Explorer program]]. Explorer 31 was launched on 29 November 1965 from [[Vandenberg Space Force Base|Vandenberg Air Force Base]], [[California]], with a [[Thor-Agena]] launch vehicle. Explorer 31 was released along with the [[Canada|Canadian]] satellite [[Alouette 2]].<ref name="Display"/> |
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| ⚫ | Explorer 31 was a small [[ionospheric]] observatory instrumented to make direct measurements of selected ionospheric parameters at the spacecraft. Since the spacecraft had no tape recorder, data could be observed at the spacecraft only when the spacecraft was in sight of the [[telemetry]] station and when commanded on. Experiments were operated either simultaneously or sequentially, as desired. The satellite was spin-stabilized with the spin axis perpendicular to the orbit plane. The spin rate and spin axis were controlled by an onboard magnetic torquing system. The attitude and spin rate information were observed by a sun sensor and a three-axis [[magnetometer]]. |
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| ⚫ | Explorer 31 was a small [[ionospheric]] observatory instrumented to make direct measurements of selected ionospheric parameters at the spacecraft. Since the spacecraft had no [[tape recorder]], data could be observed at the spacecraft only when the spacecraft was in sight of the [[telemetry]] station and when commanded on. Experiments were operated either simultaneously or sequentially, as desired. The satellite was spin-stabilized with the spin axis perpendicular to the orbit plane. The spin rate and spin axis were controlled by an onboard magnetic torquing system. The attitude and spin rate information were observed by a sun sensor and a three-axis [[magnetometer]].<ref name="Display"/> |
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| ⚫ | Satellite performance was satisfactory except for a partial power failure in May 1966, which reduced data acquisition time to about half the nominal amount. Some difficulties were encountered in obtaining attitude information that was necessary for the reduction of the experiment observations. On July 1, 1969, the satellite data observations were terminated with five of the seven experiments operating. Responsibility for standby monitoring of the satellite was given to the [[Environmental Science Services Administration|ESSA]] telemetry station at [[Boulder, Colorado]], on July 8, 1969. During this standby operation, experiment data were collected only once on October |
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| ⚫ | Satellite performance was satisfactory except for a partial power failure in May 1966, which reduced data acquisition time to about half the nominal amount. Some difficulties were encountered in obtaining attitude information that was necessary for the reduction of the experiment observations. On July 1, 1969, the satellite data observations were terminated with five of the seven experiments operating. Responsibility for standby monitoring of the satellite was given to the [[Environmental Science Services Administration|ESSA]] telemetry station at [[Boulder, Colorado]], on July 8, 1969. During this standby operation, experiment data were collected only once on 1 October 1969, for 9 minutes from the electrostatic probe for use in studying a red arc event. On January 15, 1971, no response was received from a variety of satellite commands, and the satellite was abandoned.<ref name="Display">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-098B|title=Display: Explorer 31 (DME-A) 1965-098B|publisher=NASA|date=28 October 2021|access-date=9 November 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> |
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* Cylindrical |
* Cylindrical Electrostatic Probes |
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* |
* Electron Temperature |
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* Thermal Electron Probe |
* Thermal Electron Probe |
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== |
== Experiments == |
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{{reflist}} |
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== See also == |
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{{Portal|Spaceflight}} |
{{Portal|Spaceflight}} |
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* [[Explorer program]] |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
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{{Orbital launches in 1965}} |
{{Orbital launches in 1965}} |
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[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1965]] |
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1965]] |
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[[Category:Explorers Program]] |
[[Category:Explorers Program]] |
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{{satellite-stub}} |
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Revision as of 10:39, 9 November 2021
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2018) |
.jpg) Explorer 31 | |
| Names | DME-A Direct Measurement Explorer-A |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Earth science |
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1965-098B |
| SATCAT no. | 01806 |
| Mission duration | 5 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Explorer XXXI |
| Launch mass | 98.9 kg (218 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 29 November 1965, 04:48:47 GMT [1] |
| Rocket | Thor SLV-2 Agena B ( |
| Launch site | Vandenberg, SLC-2E |
| Entered service | 29 November 1965 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 15 January 1971 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit [2] |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 505 km (314 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 2,978 km (1,850 mi) |
| Inclination | 79.80° |
| Period | 121.40 minutes |
| Instruments | |
| Cylindrical Electrostatic Probes Electron Temperature Energetic Electron Current Monitor Ion Mass Spectrometer Magnetic Ion-Mass Spectrometer Thermal Electron Probe Thermal Ion Probe | |
Explorer program | |
Explorer 31, also called DME-A, was a NASA satellite launched as part of the Explorer program. Explorer 31 was launched on 29 November 1965 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, with a Thor-Agena launch vehicle. Explorer 31 was released along with the Canadian satellite Alouette 2.[3]
Explorer 31 was a small ionospheric observatory instrumented to make direct measurements of selected ionospheric parameters at the spacecraft. Since the spacecraft had no tape recorder, data could be observed at the spacecraft only when the spacecraft was in sight of the telemetry station and when commanded on. Experiments were operated either simultaneously or sequentially, as desired. The satellite was spin-stabilized with the spin axis perpendicular to the orbit plane. The spin rate and spin axis were controlled by an onboard magnetic torquing system. The attitude and spin rate information were observed by a sun sensor and a three-axis magnetometer.[3]
Satellite performance was satisfactory except for a partial power failure in May 1966, which reduced data acquisition time to about half the nominal amount. Some difficulties were encountered in obtaining attitude information that was necessary for the reduction of the experiment observations. On July 1, 1969, the satellite data observations were terminated with five of the seven experiments operating. Responsibility for standby monitoring of the satellite was given to the ESSA telemetry station at Boulder, Colorado, on July 8, 1969. During this standby operation, experiment data were collected only once on 1 October 1969, for 9 minutes from the electrostatic probe for use in studying a red arc event. On January 15, 1971, no response was received from a variety of satellite commands, and the satellite was abandoned.[3]
Instruments
- Cylindrical Electrostatic Probes
- Electron Temperature
- Energetic Electron Current Monitor
- Ion Mass Spectrometer
- Magnetic Ion-Mass Spectrometer
- Thermal Electron Probe
- Thermal Ion Probe
Experiments
See also
References
- ^ "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "Trajectory: Explorer 31 (DME-A) 1965-098B". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "Display: Explorer 31 (DME-A) 1965-098B". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
