Also called:
Geostationary Satellite
Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU)
between NASA and European Space
Agency (formerly European Space Research Organization), Mar.
5, 1975
Date of launch (range):
Apr. 20, 1977 (ETR)
Launch vehicle:
Delta 2914
Shape:
cylindrical
Weight (kg):
574 (includes 335 kg apogee motor and
propellant)
Dimensions (m):
1.65, diam.
1.10, length, (extendable booms
varied in length from 1.5 to 20 m)
Power source:
solar cells plus Ag-Cd battery
Prime contractor:
British Aircraft Corp.
Date of reentry:
N/A
NASA's role:
launch vehicle (reimbursable)
Responsible NASA center:
GSFC
Vehicle-spacecraft
coordinator:
Jan King
Objectives:
To investigate waves and particles in
the magnetosphere from geostationary orbit.
Experiments (responsible country or
organization):
. .
wavefield (France, Denmark,
Netherlands)
electrostatic analysis (U.K.)
mass spectrometer (Switzerland,
Federal Rep. of Germany)
electron/proton spectrometer study of
acceleration and precipitation process (Germany)
electron/protron spectrometer
measurement of energy spectrum of electrons and
protons
(Sweden)
electric field (Germany)
magnetometer (Italy)
Results:
Because of a launch vehicle
third-stage malfunction the satellite was not placed in the
planned geostationary orbit (36 000 x 36 000 km); by using
the spacecraft apogee boost motor controllers put GEOS I in
an elliptical orbit (38 498 x2131 km); satellite operated
successfully, fulfilling a portion of its original
scientific objectives.
Reference: M-492-302-77-01, Apr. 13, 1977.