Aug 7 1974
From The Space Library
The Air Force Systems Command announced that it would launch an S3-1 satellite late in 1974 as part of a three-launch series to measure atmospheric effects on satellites. The first satellite would be placed in polar orbit with a 4000-km apogee and a 140-km perigee. It would be equipped with ionization gauges and accelerometers to measure air. density and to provide data on space vehicle trajectory, slowdown, and decay. Other devices would measure atmospheric heating sources, solar radiation, and atmospheric parameters. With a mass spectrometer in addition, to gather neutral and ion composition data, the experiments would help researchers understand physical and chemical processes in interactions of the sun's radiation with the upper atmosphere, as well as neutral atmospheric effects on the ionosphere. The low-altitude measurements would be used to predict the occurrence and duration of radio blackouts and of atmospheric effects on orbits. (AFSC Release O 137.74)
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