Explorer 48

 1972-091A

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SAS B was launched at 2213 on 1972 Nov 15 by a Scout D-1 from San Marco. The fourth stage ignited at 2223 and at 2226 the payload released its despin weights and deployed its solar panels. The fourth stage separated at 2232 and Small Astronomical Satellite 2 (Explorer 48) was in a 95.2 min, 444 x 632 km x 1.9 deg orbit. The experiments were activated by Nov 27. SAS 2 operated until 1973 Jun 8.

Mass was 174 kg. Central bus is 0.55m dia, spacecraft is 1.29m high. Span is 3.96m across solar panels.

SAS 2
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1972 Nov 15	2213:46	Launch by Scout	SMLC
		T+1:23 Stage 2 burn
		T+2:24 Fairing
		T+2:25 Stage 3 burn
		T+3:02 Stage 3 burnout
		T+9:51 Stage 3 sep
	2223:42	T+9:56 Stage 4 burn
	2224:13	T+10:27 Stage 4 burnout
	2226	T+14:19 Despin weights out
	2232	T+15:22 Stage 4 sep	95.2 444 x 632 x 1.9
1972 Nov 27		Operational
1973 Jun 6		End of active tracking
1974 Feb			95.2 439 x 612 x 1.9 (SSR)
1976 Aug 20		Reentry date (RAE)
1977 Feb			94.6 422 x 573 x 1.9 (SSR)
1977 Dec			94.6 422 x 574 x 1.9 (SSR)
1979 Apr 16		reentry date (SPACECOM amended)
1979 Jun			94.6 422 x 574 x 1.9 (SSR)
1979 Aug			94.8 433 x 582 x 1.9 (SSR)
1979 Dec			94.8 433 x 582 x 1.9 (SSR)
1980 Apr			94.8 433 x 582 x 1.9 (SSR)
1980 Aug 20		reentry date (SPACECOM original)

Payload:

• Spark chamber gamma ray telescope 30-200MeV (GSFC/Fichtel)