Iris 2 (satellite)
| Iris 2 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Research satellite |
| Country: |
 Europe
|
| Operator: | ESRO |
| COSPAR-ID : | 1968-041A |
| Mission dates | |
| Dimensions: | 89 kg |
| Begin: | May 17, 1968, 02:06 UTC |
| Starting place: | Vandenberg , SLC-5 |
| Launcher: | Scout 2B |
| Flight duration: | 3 years |
| Status: | burned up on May 8, 1971 |
| Orbit data | |
| Rotation time : | 98.9 min |
| Orbit inclination : | 97.2 ° |
| Apogee height : | 1085 km |
| Perigee height : | 334 km |
Iris 2 (International Radiation Investigation Satellite), or ESRO-2B , was an 89 kg spin-stabilized European research satellite . Its mission was the first successful satellite mission of the European research organization ESRO after the launch of its predecessor Iris 1 failed.
The main goal of Iris 2 was to conduct a study on solar astronomy and cosmic rays . The Iris-2 experiments had their counterparts in the NASA OSO series. The purpose of the spacecraft was to conduct the solar ray observation carried out by OSO 4 , which was launched on October 18, 1967. The particle experiments were developed to carry out similar measurements with the Ariel 1 satellite .
construction
research
IRIS 2 had seven detectors for cosmic rays on board:
- General measurement of electrons and protons ( Imperial College London )
- Study of solar flares and the Van Allen Belt (Imperial College London)
- Measurement of alpha particles and protons of solar and galactic origin (Imperial College London)
- Measurement of primary cosmic electrons ( University of Leeds )
- Measurement of hard X-rays ( University of Leicester )
- Measurement of soft X-rays ( Utrecht University )
- Measurement of protons of solar or cosmic origin ( Center d'Etudes Nucléaires de Saclay )
telecommunications
The data from the detectors were permanently recorded on magnetic tape. The storage capacity corresponded to a little more than the duration of one cycle. The satellite was in radio communication with a ground station for only about five minutes during one orbit. During this time, the recorded data was sent to earth at 32 times the speed on 136.05 MHz with 2 W. Another 0.2 W transmitter served as a radio beacon at 136.00 MHz. The satellite was remote-controlled at 148.25 MHz with pulse length coding.
power supply
Iris 2 was powered by solar cells and batteries. The satellite rotated at about 40 revolutions per minute.
Takeoff and orbit
Iris 2 was launched into polar orbit on May 17, 1968 (May 16 local time) by a Scout-B missile from Vandenberg Air Force Station SLC-5.
End of mission
After a failure of the magnetic tape recorder on board, no more stored data could be received from December 10, 1968. This reduced the amount of data by 80%, even though a combination of ESRO's ESTRACK ground stations and NASA's STADAN stations were used. Iris entered the earth's atmosphere on May 8, 1971 and burned up.
Web links
- ESRO 2A, 2B (Iris 1, 2) Gunter's Space Page (English)
- ESRO in the Encyclopedia Astronautica (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Gunter Krebs: ESRO 2A, 2B (Iris 1, 2). In: Gunter's Space Page. March 27, 2017, accessed April 21, 2017 .
- ↑ a b c ESRO 2 in the NSSDCA Master Catalog , accessed on April 21, 2017 (English).
- ↑ Yves Amram et al: Experiences embarquées. (PDF) In: Spectrometre pour protons cosmiques et solaires experience s 72 embarquee a bord du satellite ESRO December II , 1968, p. 10 , accessed on April 21, 2017 (French).
- ↑ Yves Amram et al: Télécommunications. (PDF) In: Spectrometre pour protons cosmiques et solaires experience s 72 embarquee a bord du satellite ESRO , December 2nd , 1968, pp. 11–12 , accessed on April 21, 2017 (French).
- ^ ESRO 2. In: NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA, accessed April 21, 2017 .