1976-019A
NASDA and the Radio Research Lab (RRL) developed the Ionospheric Sounding Satellite (ISS), a 135 kg, 0.82 m long, 0.94m diameter spacecraft with a swept frequency topside sounder with 36.8m and 11.4m span dipole antennae covering a range from 0.5 to 148 MHz. Prime contractor was Mitsubishi. The satellite was named Ume (Japanese apricot blossom) after launch. Launch was southeast from TNSC at azimuth 115 deg (corresponding to a 38 deg inclination); a yaw burn in second stage changed inclination to 70 deg.
| Ume | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 Feb 29 | 0330 | Launch N-I 2 | TNSC |
| 0333 | St 1 sep | -6000? x 200? x 38? | |
| Fairing sep | |||
| 0335 | St 2 burn 4:30 | ||
| 0339 | St 2 cutoff | -3200 x 998 x 51.4 | |
| 0340 | St 3 burn, circ | ||
| 0341? | St 3 sep | 105.2 994 x 1013 x 69.7 | |
| 1976 Mar | Electrical malfunction | ||
| 1976 Aug 2 | End of tx | ||
Payload:
- TOP Swept frequency topside sounder, 36.8m., 11.4m dipoles; 0.5-148 MHz
- PIC Ion mass spectrometers
