Feb 18 1974
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(New page: 18-26 February: The cooperative Italian-NASA San Marco 4 (San Marco C2) Explorer satellite was successfully launched by an Italian crew from the San Marco launch platform off the coast of ...)
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18-26 February: The cooperative Italian-NASA San Marco 4 (San Marco C2) Explorer satellite was successfully launched by an Italian crew from the San Marco launch platform off the coast of Kenya on a NASA Scout booster. Liftoff was at 1:05 pm local time (6:05 am EDT) 2 hrs 50 min late because of low cloud cover. The satellite entered orbit with a 930.5-km apogee, 234.5-km perigee, 96-min period, and 2.9° inclination to measure diurnal variations of the equatorial neutral atmosphere's density, composition, and temperature. The data would be correlated with data from Explorer 51 (launched 15 Dec. 1973) for studies of the physics and dynamics of the thermosphere. The launch had been delayed from 6 Feb. to allow NASA'S Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network (STDN) to give better support for the 8 Feb. Skylab 4 splashdown.
The Italian-built 170-kg San Marco 4 carried three experiments: an Italian density-drag accelerometer to measure atmospheric drag, a U.S. omegatron to measure the temperature and density of thermosphere molecular nitrogen, and a U.S. neutral mass spectrometer to measure primary constituents of the neutral atmosphere. Data gathered by San Marco 4 in the equatorial zone and Explorer 51 in the auroral zone would provide a good picture of the effects of magnetic storms on the thermo-sphere and differences in the thermosphere's response to energy coming from the sun to the poles and the equator.
The omegatron experiment was activated 19 Feb. and the neutral mass spectrometer 22 Feb. By 26 Feb. both instruments were acquiring worth-while scientific data. The Italian density- drag accelerometer, activated shortly after launch but not performing properly, was being investigated. All spacecraft systems were functioning as planned.
San Marco 4 was the fourth satellite launched under cooperative agreements between NASA and the Italian Space Commission. San Marco 1 was launched 15 Dec. 1964; San Marco 2, 26 April 1967; and San Marco 3, 24 April 1971. Under the latest agreement, signed 6 Aug. 1973, Italy had designed and built the spacecraft, provided one experiment, and conducted launch operations. The U.S. provided the Scout booster, two experiments, technical consultation, launch crew training, and spacecraft tracking and data acquisition. (NASA MORS, 15, 26 Feb 74; NASA Releases 74-30, 74-39)
18 February-6 March: Thomas L. Gatch was lost at sea while attempting the first transatlantic balloon flight. Gatch lifted off from Harrisburg, Pa., 18 Feb. in a two-meter sealed gondola, the light Heart, suspended from 10 helium-filled balloons. He hoped to reach 12 000-m altitude and ride the jet-stream winds across the Atlantic to Europe, but changes in air currents pushed him south of his planned course. Radio contact was made with Gatch 19 Feb. by an airliner 1600 km east northeast of Puerto Rico. He was spotted at 305-m altitude 21 Feb. by a Liberian ship 1670 km off the coast of Africa. Further inconsistent and unconfirmed radio contacts and sightings made tracking Gatch's balloon difficult.
After reports of a sighting on the Spanish Sahara, the Spanish Foreign Legion searched the 480-km Moroccan-Spanish Sahara border for two days, while U.S. military aircraft and ships were put on lookout. The Dept. of Defense ordered an intensive visual radar and radio search 1 March of the Atlantic Ocean 1530 km west of Africa, but the search was given up 6 March after exploration of 578 000 sq km of ocean. (W Star-News, 18, 22, 26 Feb. 74; W Post, 25 Feb, 2, 7 March 74; B San, 21, 25 Feb 74)
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