May 1974

From The Space Library

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Current revision

Preliminary discussions aimed at an eventual global system of second-generation meteorological satellites were held in Geneva, sponsored by the 139-member World Meteorological Organization. Delegates considered establishment of a worldwide forum for presentation of data requirements by users, creation of a mechanism for filing launch plans and distributing advance information on capabilities to potential users of planned satellites, and prospects for training users to interpret and apply data from advanced satellites. Talks were held concurrently on technical standardization of systems, including preliminary standards for ground stations, coordination of transmission times and frequencies, and standardization of automatic-picture-transmission installations. Agreements made at the informal sessions would be taken back to the technical agencies of the various countries and implemented, without the necessity of official review. One result was agreement on L-band frequencies, with U.S. satellites to transmit on 1690 mc.

Soviet sources revealed that the U.S.S.R.'s first synchronous me-teorological satellite would be launched in 1977 or 1978 and placed over the Indian Ocean at 70° E. The press reported that it was expected to be technically compatible with U.S., European Space Research Organization, and Japanese satellites in its class. (Av Wk, 20 May 74, 21)

3-20 May: NASA launched Hawkeye 1 (Explorer 52) scientific satellite from Western Test Range at 4:09 pm PDT on a five-stage Scout E launch vehicle. The 4th and 5th stages separated in parking orbit and the 5th-stage burn placed Hawkeye 1 in polar orbit with a 124 477-km apogee, 469-km perigee, 49-hr 59-min period, and 89.8° inclination. The launch was the first on the five-stage Scout E configuration, incorporating an Alcyone 1A motor with a 5th-stage transition section.

Primary mission objective was to investigate the interaction between the solar wind and the earth's magnetic field. Secondary objectives included locating magnetic neutral points or lines during both quiet and disturbed solar wind conditions and studying magnetic field topology at large radial distances over the polar caps.

By 20 June all booms and electric antennas had been extended and the spacecraft had despun to the planned five to six revolutions per minute. The transmitters and all experiments were operating satisfactorily.

Hawkeye 1 was the sixth of the Univ. of Iowa's Injun series, which had begun with the 29 June 1961 launch of Injun 1 and provided a comprehensive study of charged particles trapped in the earth's magnetosphere. The Hawkeye program was managed by Langley Research Center under the direction of the NASA Office of Space Science. LaRC also had responsibility for the Scout launch vehicle. (MORs, 13 May 74, 20 June 74; NASA Release 74-138K)

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