Also called:
International Sun-Earth
Explorer
Memorandum of Understanding:
same as for ISEE 1 and 2
Date of launch (range):
Aug. 12, 1978 (ETR)
Launch vehicle:
Thor-Delta 2914
Shape:
same as for ISEE 1
Weight (kg):
479
Dimensions (m):
same as for ISEE 1
Power source:
same as for ISEE 1
Prime contractor:
N/A
Date of reentry:
N/A
NASA's role:
same as for ISEE 1
Responsible NASA center:
GSFC
Project manager:
J. Madden
Project scientist:
Tycho von Rosenving
Objectives:
To obtain detailed measurements of
the solar wind and its fluctuations at a libration point (a
point where gravitational equilibrium exists among the sun,
earth, and the moon).
Experiments (responsible country or
organization):
.
solar wind plasma (Los Alamos
Scientific Laboratories)
magnetometer (Jet Propulsion
Laboratory)
low energy cosmic ray (Max Planck
Institut)
medium energy cosmic ray
(GSFC)
high energy cosmic ray (Univ. of
California)
plasma waves (TRW Systems
Group)
protons (imperial College,
London)
cosmic ray electrons (Univ. of
Chicago)
x-rays and electrons (Univ. of
California)
radio mapping (Paris
Observatory)
plasma composition (GSFC)
high energy cosmic rays (California
Institute of Technology)
ground based solar studies (Stanford
Univ.)
Results:
Successfully joined with ISEE I and 2
in returning data for use in the International
Meteorological Study. In 1983 plans were being made to use
ISEE 3 to observe the Giacobini-Zinner and Halley's comets
in 1985.
Reference: MOR S-862-7-03, July 31, 1978.