1965-101A
The FR-1 (France 1) satellite was launched in Dec 1965 by a Scout from Vandenberg. FR-1's mission was to study propagation of VLF radio waves in the ionosphere. The 62 kg satellite was built by Nord Aviation in conjunction with CNET, the communications research agency.
The satellite was 0.69m dia and 1.32 m to the top of the mag boom, with two dipoles spanning 4.3m. A 10 kg sep mechanism remained attached to the final stage.
| FR-1 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 Dec 6 | 2105:47 | Launch by Scout X-4 | V SLC5 |
| T+1:09 Stage 2 burn | |||
| T+2:05 Stage 2 burnout | |||
| T+2:09 Fairing sep | |||
| T+2:10 Stage 3 burn | |||
| T+2:50 Stage 3 burnout | |||
| 2116:04 | Spinup | ||
| 2116:11 | T+10:24 Stage 4 burn 23s | ||
| 2116:34 | T+10:47 Stage 4 burnout | ||
| 2118:41 | T+12:54 Despin weights | ||
| 2119:40 | T+13:53 Electric field antenna deploy | ||
| 2120? | Stage 4 sep | ||
| T+14:54 Nutation damper release | |||
| 2121:41 | T+15:54 Stage 4 sep | ||
| T+16:24 Sayers probe deployment | |||
| 99.9 746 x 762 x 75.9 | |||
| 1966 Dec 31? | End of transmissions? | ||
Payload:
- VLF experiment, magnetospheric plasma waves (CNET/Storey)
- VLF electric and magnetic fields, 2 x 4.3m crossed dipoles
- Electron density probe, 0.5m (Bir/Sayers)
- Magnetometer boom
