SP-4012 NASA HISTORICAL DATA BOOK: VOLUME III
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 1969-1978
 
 

Table 3-67. Explorer 53 Characteristics

 

Also called:

Small Astronomy Satellite C (SAS-C)

Date of launch (range):

May 7, 1975 (San Marco)

Launch Vehicle:

Scout

Shape:

cylindrical with 4 solar paddles

Weight (kg):

196.7

Dimensions (m):

1.45, diameter

4.70, tip to tip

Power source:

solar array plus NiCd battery

Prime Contractor:

Center for Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins

Date of reentry:

Apr. 9, 1979

Responsible NASA center:

GSFC

Project Manager:

Townsend

Project scientist:

Fichtel

Objectives:

To investigate celestial sources radiating in the x-ray, gamma ray, ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectral regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, specifically to measure the x-ray emission of discrete extragalactic sources.

Experiments (responsible organization):

.

Extragalactic monitor (GSF) Galactic monitor (GSFC) Scorpio monitor (GSFQ Galactic absorption (GSFC)

Results:

Successful; returned data for 4 years; launched with Anik 3, a Canadian communications satellite.

 

Reference: MOR S-878-75-03, May 6, 1975.


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