1978-103A
The HEAO-B payload was a breakthrough mission in x-ray astronomy, making the first high resolution images of the x-ray sky. HEAO 2, the High Energy Astronomy Observatory 2, was named Einstein once it reached orbit after Albert Einstein (1879-1955), the physicist who pioneered the special and general theories of relativity, the photoelectric effect, and advances in other fields. Launch was at 0524 on 1978 Nov 13 by Atlas Centaur from Cape Canaveral. The Atlas burn cutoff was a T+4:05.1, followed by the Centaur burn. The Centaur cut its engines at 0535 (T+11:36), delivering Einstein to a 95.1 min, 520 x 541 km x 23.5 deg orbit. The covers on the telescope and the STA star trackers were ejected the same day. On 1980 Aug 27 HEAO-2 lost attitude control, but was able to resume observations on Dec 6. The satellite finally ran out of attitude control propellant on 1981 Apr 25 and was shut down the next day. It reentered on 1982 Mar 25.
| HEAO B | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 Nov 13 | 0524 | Launch by Atlas Centaur | CC LC36 |
| T+2:20 BECO | |||
| T+2:23 Booster sep | |||
| T+3:07 Insulation panels sep | |||
| T+4:05 Atlas MECO | |||
| T+4:07 Atlas sep | |||
| T+4:19 Centaur MES | |||
| T+4:31 Fairing sep | |||
| 0535 | T+11:36 Centaur MECO | ||
| 0546 | T+22:40 Centaur sep | ||
| T+22:58 Centaur retro | |||
| Telescope cover ejected | |||
| STA star tracker covers ejected | |||
| 1980 Aug 27 | Attitude control issues | ||
| 1980 Dec 6 | Observations resumed | ||
| 1981 Apr 25 | Attitude control prop expended | ||
| 1982 Mar 25 | Reentered | ||
