Aug 19 1972
From The Space Library
Japan launched Denpa (Radio Wave) Radio Explorer Satellite (REXS) from Kagoshima Space Center by Mu-4S booster at 11:40 am local time (10:40 pm EDT Aug. 18), Because of unusually strong winds, satellite entered highly elliptic orbit with 6302-km (3915.9-mi) apogee, 239-km (148.5-mi) perigee, 157.2- min period, and 31° inclination, Denpa carried ionospheric plasma probes, electromagnetic and plasma-wave receivers, cyclotron instability experiment, electron flux analyzer, and fluxgate magnetometer. Instruments functioned satisfactorily immediately after launch, but satellite later experienced power failure that prevented transmission of data. The 75-kg (165-1b) satellite, 68. cm (22.3 ft) long, was fourth satellite to be launched by Japan and second to carry scientific payload. Shinsei (launched Sept. 28, 1971) had carried instruments to study cosmic and electric waves. Tansei (launched Feb. 16, 1971) and Ohsumi (launched Feb. 11, 1970) test satellites had returned performance data. (GSFC SSR, 8/31/72; FBIS-Japan, 7/20/72, C7; Spacewarn, 8/8/72, 8; NASA Int Aff; Japanese Embassy Flo)
Last in series of very-high-altitude flight tests of parachute decelerator system for NASA's Viking Mars lander, scheduled for 1975 launch, was held over White Sands Missile Range by Martin Marietta Corp. under Air Force Research Laboratories direction. Decelerator was dropped from balloon at altitude of 27 000 m (88 000 ft) to check out parachute system at subsonic conditions. In previous tests rocket motors had boosted speed after balloon had carried system to desired altitude. [See July 11 and 26, Aug. 13, and Dec. 14.] (AFSC Release 105.72; Martin Marietta Corp Pm; NASA Release 72-118)
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