Explorer 13

Explorer 13
Explorer 13 (S-55A)
Operator NASA
Harvard designation 1961 χ1
COSPAR ID 1961-022A
SATCAT no. 180
Website 1961-022A[1]
Mission duration 3 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer GSFC
Launch mass 86 kg (190 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date August 25, 1961, 19:26 (1961-08-25UTC19:26) UTC[2]
Rocket Scout X-1
Launch site Wallops LA-3
End of mission
Last contact August 28, 1961 (1961-08-29)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Eccentricity 0.07392[1]
Perigee 125 km (78 mi)[1]
Apogee 1,164 km (723 mi)[1]
Inclination 37.7°[1]
Period 97.5 minutes[1]
Epoch August 25, 1961[1]
Instruments

Explorer 13 (also called S-55A) was an American satellite launched as part of Explorers program. Was launched on August 25, 1961 from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, U.S..

Mission

Explorer 13 was injected into a geocentric orbit of moderate eccentricity using a Scout launch vehicle. The objectives of the flight were to test vehicle performance and guidance and to investigate the nature and effects of micrometeoroids on the spacecraft systems. The scientific instrumentation consisted of cadium sulfide-cell, wire-grid, piezoelectric, pressurized-cell, and foil-type micrometeoroid detectors.

The spacecraft was a 1.93 m × 0.61 m (6.3 ft × 2.0 ft) cylinder. The orbit was lower than planned, and the spacecraft reentered the atmosphere on August 28, 1961, after only slightly more than 2 days in orbit. No penetrations were recorded by this satellite during experiment operations. This aided in determination of useful flux limits for subsequent experiment design.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "S 55A". NSSDC Master Catalog. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ↑ "Jonathan's Space Page".




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