Also called:
Uhuru or Small Astronomy Satellite-A
Explorer (SAS-A)
Date of launch (range):
Dec. 12, 1970 (San Marco)
Launch vehicle:
Scout
Shape:
cylindrical
Weight (kg):
81.6
Dimensions (m):
0.56, diameter
0.51, height
Power source:
solar array plus NiCd battery
Prime Contractor:
American Science & Engineering
and Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins
Date of reentry:
Apr. 5, 1979
Responsible NASA center:
GSFC
Project manager:
Margorie R. Townsend, Carl E.
Fichtel
Project experiments manager:
D. P. Wrublik
Objectives:
To develop a catalog of celestial
x-ray sources by systematic scanning of the celestial sphere
in the energy range 2-20 keV.
Experiments (responsible
organization):
.
Advanced x-ray (American Science
& Engineering)
Results:
Successful; returned useful data
through 1974; the satellite was turned off in 1975 and
reactivated in 1977.
Reference: MOR S-878-70-01, Dec. 7, 1970.