Explorer 22

Explorer 22
180px
Image of Explorer 22.
Mission type Earth science
Operator NASA
COSPAR ID 1964-064A[1]
SATCAT no. 899
Mission duration 5 years and 4 months
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Applied Physics Laboratory
Launch mass 52.6 kg (116 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 10 October 1964, 03:07 (1964-10-10UTC03:07) UTC[2]
Rocket Scout X-4
Launch site Vandenberg PALC-D[3]
End of mission
Last contact February 1970
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Eccentricity 0.0130[1]
Perigee 889 km (552 mi)[1]
Apogee 1,081 km (672 mi)[1]
Inclination 79.7°[1]
Period 104.8 minutes[1]
Epoch 10 October 1964[1]

Explorer 22 (also called BE-2 or Beacon Explorer B) wan an American satellite launched as part of Explorers program of the NASA.

Explorer 22 was a small ionospheric research satellite instrumented with an electrostatic probe, a 20-, 40-, and 41-Hz radio beacon, a passive laser tracking reflector, and a Doppler navigation experiment. Its objective was to obtain worldwide observations of total electron content between the spacecraft and the earth.

The satellite was initially spin-stabilized, but it was despun after solar paddle erection. Subsequent stabilization oriented the satellite axis of symmetry with the local magnetic field by means of a strong bar magnet and damping rods. A three-axis magnetometer and sun sensors provided information on the satellite attitude and spin rate.[4]

There was no tape recorder aboard so that satellite performance data and electrostatic probe data could be observed only when the satellite was within range of a ground telemetry station. Continuous transmitters also operated at 162 MHz and 324 MHz to permit precise tracking by "Transit" tracking stations for navigation and geodetic studies. In August 1968, data acquisition from the satellite telemetry channels was discontinued. In July 1969, tracking and world map production were discontinued by GSFC, and world map production based on NORAD orbit elements was subsequently assumed by ESRO. The satellite failed in February 1970 and BE-C (65-032A) was turned on in order to partially replace use made of this satellite beacon experiment.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "BE-B". NSSDC Master Catalog. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ↑ "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Letter dated 22 December 1964 from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America addressed to the Secretary-General". UNOOSA. 30 December 1964. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  4. ↑ Ludwig Combrinck, 2010. Sciences of Geodesy (Cap. 9). Springer-Verlag. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Beacon". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Mark Wade. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
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