Saturday, January 24, 1976

Explorer 30

 1965-093A


NRL's Solrad 8 (SR 08) satellite was the first launched under NASA's auspices as part of the Explorer program. It had the NRL internal designation PL 145 and was given the NASA payload name Solar Explorer A and the post-launch designation Explorer 30. The satellite was launched as a special IQSY (International Quiet Sun Year) Solar Explorer project. Mass of SR VIII~was 57 kg. The satellite was a 24-inch Vanguard-derived sphere, spin-stabilized at 60 rpm.

Launch was on 1965 Nov 19 by Scout X-4 from Wallops Island. The orbit was 100.8 min, 704 x 891 km x 59.7 deg. Solrad 8 transmitted until 1967 Nov 20 and ended continuous science operations in Aug 1967; it was replaced by OGO 4.


Explorer 30 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1965 Nov 19  0448:27  Launch by Scout  WI 
  T+1:14 St 1 burnout 
  T+1:20 St 2 burn 
  T+2:03 St 2 burnout 
  T+2:11 Fairing sep
  T+2:12 St 3 burn 
  T+2:45 St 3 burnout 
  T+10:22 St 3 sep 
 0458:54 T+10:27 St 4 burn 
 0459:16 T +10:49 St 4 burnout 
 0500? St 4 sep 100.8 704 x 891 x 59.7 
  Yo-yo despin 
1967 Nov 20   End of tx 

Payload:

  • UV detector 1080-1350A

  • UV detector 1225-1350A

  • X-ray detector 1-8 A

  • X-ray detector 1-8A, 0.5-3A (two detectors)

  • X-ray detector 8-16A (two detectors)

  • X-ray detector 0-20A

  • X-ray detector 44-60A

These Are Not My Beautiful Stories

  Summary: The chapters within are outlines for both future stories I’ve got planned (in the case that I never get around to writing them) a...