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

 

Table 3-82. Orbiting Solar Observatory 8 (OSO 8) Characteristics

 

Date of launch (range):

June 21, 1975 (ETR)

Launch vehicle:

Delta 1910

Shape:

rectangular-shaped sail atop a lower wheel-like structure composed of 9 wedges with 3 stabilization arms

Weight (kg):

1052

Dimensions (m):

3.25, height

2.10, sail diameter

1.52, wheel diameter

Power source:

solar cells plus NiCd batteries

Prime contractor:

Hughes Aircraft Company

Date of reentry:

In orbit 1984

Responsible NASA center:

GSFC

Project manager:

Robert H. Pickard

Project scientist:

S. P. Maran

Objectives:

To investigate the sun's lower corona, the chromosphere, and their interface in the uv spectral region to better understand the transport of energy from the photosphere into the corona.

Experiments (responsible organization):

High-resolution ultraviolet spectrometer (Univ. of Colorado) Chromosphere study (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

High-sensitivity crystal spectrometer and polarimeter (Columbia)

Mapping x-ray heliometer (Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.)

Soft x-ray background radiation (Univ. of Wisconsin)

Cosmic x-ray spectroscopy (GSFC)

High-energy celestial x-ray (GSFC)

xuv radiation (Naval Research Laboratory)

Results:

Successful; satellite turned off in Sept. 1978.

 

Reference: MOR S-821-75-09, June 4, 1975.


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