Explorer 14

Explorer 14 was a spin-stabilized, solar-cell-powered spacecraft instrumented to measure cosmic-ray particles, trapped particles, solar wind protons, and magnetospheric and interplanetary magnetic fields. A 16-channel PFM/PM time-division multiplexed telemeter was used. The time required to sample the 16 channels (one frame period) was 0.323 s. Half of the channels were used to convey eight-level digital information, and the others were used for analog information. During ground processing of the telemetered data, the analog information was digitized with an accuracy of 1/100 of full scale. One analog channel was subcommutated in a 16-frame-long pattern and was used to telemeter spacecraft temperatures, power system voltages, currents, etc. A digital solar aspect sensor measured the spin period and phase, digitized to 0.041 s, and the angle between the spin axis and sun direction to about 3-degree intervals.[1][2]

Explorer 14
Mission typeEarth science
OperatorNASA
Harvard designation1962 Beta Gamma 1
COSPAR ID1962-051A
SATCAT no.432
Mission duration10 months
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerGoddard Space Flight Center
Launch mass40 kilograms (88 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateOctober 2, 1962, 22:11:30 (1962-10-02UTC22:11:30Z) UTC
RocketDelta A
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17B
End of mission
Last contactAugust 11, 1963 (1963-08-12)
Decay dateMay 25, 1988
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeHighly elliptical
Semi-major axis78,707 kilometres (48,906 mi)
Eccentricity0.8389330
Perigee altitude2,601.0 kilometers (1,616.2 mi)
Apogee altitude96,189.0 kilometers (59,769.1 mi)
Inclination42.80 degrees
Period2184.60 minutes
RAAN212.21 degrees
Argument of perigee141.02 degrees
Mean anomaly333.98 degrees
Mean motion0.6673
Epoch16 April 1965, 20:39:58 UTC
Revolution no.122
Explorers
 

Experiments

There were eight experiments done on the Explorer 14 during its mission.[3]

  1. Proton Analyzer
  2. Fluxgate Magnetometers
  3. Trapped Particle Radiation
  4. Cosmic Rays
  5. Proton-Electron Scintillation Detector
  6. Solar Aspect Sensor
  7. Electrolytic Timer Experiment
  8. Solar Cell Damage Experiment

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  1. NASA:SP-4312 Dreams, Hopes, Realities-Chapter 1:Goddard's First Forty: The Quest to Learn
  2. NSSDC:Explorer 14
  3. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experimentSearch.do?spacecraft=Explorer%2014


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