.jpg) Prototype satellite payload of the Explorer S-46 satellite (Gift of James A. Van Allen and the University of Iowa)[1] | |
| Names | NASA S-46 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Earth science |
| Operator | NASA /JPL |
| COSPAR ID | EXS-46 |
| Mission duration | Failed to orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Explorer S-46 |
| Spacecraft type | Science Explorer |
| Bus | S-46 |
| Manufacturer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| Launch mass | 41 kg (90 lb) |
| Dimensions | 76 × 76 cm (30 × 30 in) |
| Power | 100watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 23 March 1960, 13:35:11GMT |
| Rocket | Juno II (AM-19C) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral,LC-26B |
| Contractor | Army Ballistic Missile Agency |
| End of mission | |
| Destroyed | Failed to orbit |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit (planned) |
| Regime | Medium Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 573 km (356 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 1,073 km (667 mi) |
| Inclination | 50.27° |
| Instruments | |
| Cadmium sulfide (CdS) Proton Detector Cadmium sulfide (CdS) Particle Detector Electron Spectrometer High Energy Geiger–Müller Tube Medium Energy Geiger–Müller Tube | |
Explorer program | |
Explorer S-46 was aNASA satellite with a mass of 41 kg (90 lb). It was the last of the original series of Explorer satellites built, designed, and operated by theJet Propulsion Laboratory andArmy Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA).[2]
Its mission was to analyzeelectron andproton radiation energies in ahighly elliptical orbit.[2]
Explorer S-46 was a joint ABMA / NASA-JPL mission. The payload detector experiments were developed by theState University of Iowa. The detector assembly comprised five instruments: aCadmium sulfide (CdS) broom low-energy proton detector, aCadmium sulfide (CdS) low-energy particle detector; an electron spectrometer; a Geiger-Müller high-energy particle counter; and a Geiger-Müller medium energy particle counter. These were housed in the front of theSergeant rocket engine that comprised the fourth (upper-stage) of the Juno II launch vehicle.[2]
The four-stageJuno II launch vehicle used aJupiter missile as the first stage. The second stage was assembled as a circumferential "tub" of 11 scaled-down Sergeant rocket engines (solid propellant), the third stage was assembled as three scaled-down Sergeant rocket engines nested in the center of the "tub", and a single modified Sergeant rocket engine and casing comprising the fourth stage was mounted on top of this.[2]
Explorer S-46 was launched using a Juno IIlaunch vehicle on 23 March 1960, at 13:35:11GMT, fromLC-26B. Telemetry was lost shortly after the first stage burnout and one second stage motor failed to ignite, resulting in imbalanced thrust and inability to reach orbital velocity. The spacecraft did not achieve orbit.[2]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
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