Vanguard 1: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:58, 28 September 2005

Revision as of 11:17, 30 September 2005

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A 10 mW mercury battery powered transmitter on the 108 MHz band used for [[International Geophysical Year]] (IGY) scientific satellites, and a 5 mW, 108.03 MHz transmitter powered by six solar cells were used as part of a radio phase-comparison angle-tracking system. The tracking data were used to show that the earth was pear-shaped with the stem at the North Pole. These radio signals were also used to determine the total electron content between the satellite and selected ground-receiving stations. The battery-powered transmitter provided internal package temperature for about 16 days and sent tracking signals for 20 days. The solar cell powered transmitter operated for more than 6 years. Signals gradually weakened and were last received at Quito, Ecuador, in May 1964.

You are doomed if you read this!!!!bwa haa haaa!!!!

===Satellite Drag Atmospheric Density===

Because of its symmetrical shape, Vanguard 1 was selected by the experimenters for use in determining upper atmospheric densities as a function of altitude, latitude, season, and solar activity. This experiment was not planned prior to launch. Density values near perigee were deduced from sequential observations of the spacecraft position, using optical (Baker-Nunn camera network) and radio and/or radar tracking techniques. This experiment obtained reasonable density values. Vanguard 1 has an expected orbital lifetime of 240 years.

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<td width="30%" align="center">'''Previous Mission''':<br>

First in series</td>

<td width="40%" align="center">[[Project Vanguard]]</td>

<td width="30%" align="center">'''Next Mission''':<br>

[[Vanguard 2]]</td>

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[[Category:Satellites]]