Also called:
ESRO I-B
Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU)
between NASA and European Space
Research Organization, July 8, 1964
Date of launch (range):
Oct. 1, 1969 (WTR)
Launch vehicle:
Scout
Shape:
cylindrical with truncated cones at
each end
Weight (kg):
85.8
Dimensions (m):
0.76, diam.
1.52, length
2.43, tip to tip with booms
extended
Power source:
solar cells plus battery
Prime contractor:
Laboratoire Central de
Telecommunications
Date of reentry:
Nov. 23, 1969
NASA's role:
launch vehicle (reimbursable)
Responsible NASA center:
GSFC
Project manager:
Herbert L. Eaker
Project scientist:
Leslie H. Meredith
Objectives:
To perform an integrated study of the
high-latitude ionosphere.
Experiments (responsible country or
organization):
.
scintillator and pulse height
analyzer (Radio and Space Research Station, U.K.)
electrostatic analyzer (Kiruna
Geophysical Observatory, Sweden)
solid state detectors (Technical
Univ. of Denmark and Univ. of Bergen, Norway)
George-Muller counters (Tech. Univ.
of Denmark and Norwegian Space Committee)
plastic scintillator-low energy
proton (RSRS)
photometer (Norwegian Institute of
Cosmic Physics)
electron temperature and density
probe (Univ. College, London)
positive ion composition and
temperature probe (Univ. College)
Results:
Spacecraft was placed in a lower
orbit than planned (382 x 291 km instead of 435 x 400 km)
because of a launch vehicle fourth-stage malfunction; as a
result the mission lasted only 52 days instead of the
planned 4 months; all experiments returned data successfully
during the spacecraft's operating lifetime.
Reference: MOR S-871-69-05, Sept. 23, 1969.