OV1-5

Last updated
OV1-5
Ov1-1.jpg
OV1 series satellite
Mission type Earth science
Operator USAF
COSPAR ID 1966-025B OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. S02122
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer General Dynamics
Launch mass114.3 kg (252 lb) with Altair
Start of mission
Launch date30 Mar 1966 09:20:12 (1966-03-30UTC09:20:12) UTC
Rocket Atlas D
Launch site Vandenberg 576-B-3
Orbital parameters
Regime Low Earth Orbit
Eccentricity 0.00479
Perigee altitude 987.00 km (613.29 mi)
Apogee altitude 1,058.00 km (657.41 mi)
Inclination 144.600°
Period 105.60 minutes [1]
Epoch 1966-03-30 09:21:00
OV1
←  OV1-4
OV1-7  →
 

Orbiting Vehicle 1-5 (also known as OV1-5) was launched 30 Mar 1966, and was the fifth satellite (and third successful satellite) in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. OV1-5 conducted optical experiments, surveying the Earth in the infrared spectrum to see if water, land, mountains and deserts could be distinguished by their thermal gradients. It was launched concurrently with OV1-4 in the first ever side-by-side satellite orbital deployment.

Contents

History

Lt. Col. Clyde Northcott, Jr. , OV1 program manager Lt. Col. Clyde Northcott, Jr. , OV1 program manager.jpg
Lt. Col. Clyde Northcott, Jr. , OV1 program manager

The Orbiting Vehicle satellite program arose from a US Air Force initiative, begun in the early 1960s, to reduce the expense of space research. Through this initiative, satellites would be standardized to improve reliability and cost-efficiency, and where possible, they would fly on test vehicles or be piggybacked with other satellites. In 1961, the Air Force Office of Aerospace Research (OAR) created the Aerospace Research Support Program (ARSP) to request satellite research proposals and choose mission experiments. The USAF Space and Missiles Organization created their own analog of the ARSP called the Space Experiments Support Program (SESP), which sponsored a greater proportion of technological experiments than the ARSP. [2] : 417  Five distinct OV series of standardized satellites were developed under the auspices of these agencies. [2] : 425 

The OV1 series was an evolution of the 2.7 m "Scientific Passenger Pods" (SPP), which, starting on 2 October 1961, rode piggyback on suborbital Atlas missile tests and conducted scientific experiments during their short time in space. General Dynamics received a $2 million contract on 13 September 1963 to build a new version of the SPP (called the Atlas Retained Structure (ARS)) that would carry a self-orbiting satellite. Once the Atlas missile and ARS reached apogee, the satellite inside would be deployed and thrust itself into orbit. In addition to the orbital SPP, General Dynamics would create six of these satellites, each to be 3.66 m (12.0 ft) long with a diameter of .762 m (2 ft 6.0 in), able to carry a 136 kg (300 lb) payload into a circular 805 km (500 mi) orbit.

Dubbed "Satellite for Aerospace Research" (SATAR), the series of satellites was originally to be launched from the Eastern Test Range on Atlas missions testing experimental Advanced Ballistic Re-Entry System (ABRES) nosecones. However, in 1964, the Air Force transferred ABRES launches to the Western Test Range causing a year's delay for the program. Moreover, because WTR launches would be into polar orbit as opposed to the low-inclination orbits typical of ETR launches, less mass could be lofted into orbit using the same thrust, and the mass of the SATAR satellites had to be reduced. [2] : 417  The OV1 program was managed by Lt. Col. Clyde Northcott, Jr. [3]

The first OV1 satellite to be launched was OV1-1 on January 21, 1965. Though OV1-1's Atlas booster performed properly, the satellite's onboard Altair rocket did not fire, and the probe was lost. OV1-1 was the only satellite launched on an ABRES mission. Starting with OV1-3, launched and lost May 27, 1965, the remaining OV1 satellites all flew on Atlas D and F missiles that had been decommissioned from ICBM duty (except OV1-6, which flew on the Manned Orbiting Laboratory test flight on 2 November 1966). [2] : 418–422  OV1-2, the first successful satellite in the OV1 series, was launched 5 October, 1965. [2] : 418–419  OV1-2 pioneered the back-to-back launch configuration under which two OV1 satellites could be carried on the same rocket, although OV1-2 flew alone. This configuration would be used in the co-launch of OV1-4 and OV1-5. [4]

Spacecraft design

OV1-5 was, like the rest of the OV1 satellite series, 1.387 m (4 ft 6.6 in) long and .69 m (2 ft 3 in) in diameter, consisting of a cylindrical experiment housing capped with flattened cones on both ends [5] containing 5000 solar cells producing 22 watts of power. Two .46 m (1 ft 6 in) antennae for transmitting telemetry and receiving commands extended from the sides of the spacecraft. 12 helium-pressurized hydrogen peroxide thrusters provided attitude control. [2] : 418 

OV1-5 weighed, with its attached Altair booster, 114.3 kg (252 lb). [1]

Experiments

OV1-5's 46.3 kg (102 lb) experiment package included five infrared optical instruments built by Cambridge Research Laboratories, collectively called the Background Optical Radiation Experiment. Their goal was to determine if different terrain types on the Earth's surface (water, land, mountains and deserts) could be distinguished by their temperature gradients. [2] : 419 

Mission

Launched from Vandenberg's 576-B-3 launch pad on 30 Mar 1966 at 09:20:12 UTC via Atlas D rocket, [6] OV1-5 and the co-launched OV1-4 were the first satellites to be placed into orbit side-by-side (as opposed to serially. [7] OV1-4 and OV1-5 had similar but not identical low orbits. [8] OV1-5 performed its mission, data from its time in orbit adding to the body of spectrometric observations of the Earth. [9] In addition to various dedicated USAF facilities, the 150 ft (46 m) parabolic dish at Sagamore Hill Radio Observatory was used on an as available basis to receive data from OV1-5. [10]

Legacy and status

As of 24 March 2021, OV1-5 is still in orbit, and its position can be tracked on-line. [11]

The OV1 program ultimately comprised 22 missions, the last flying on 19 September 1971. [2] : 421 

Related Research Articles

Orbiting Vehicle American satellite family

Orbiting Vehicle or OV, originally designated SATAR, comprised five disparate series of standardized American satellites operated by the US Air Force, launched between 1965 and 1971. Forty seven satellites were built, of which forty three were launched and thirty seven reached orbit. With the exception of the OV3 series and OV4-3, they were launched as secondary payloads, using excess space on other missions. This resulted in extremely low launch costs and short proposal-to-orbit times. Typically, OV satellites carried scientific and/or technological experiments, 184 being successfully orbited through the lifespan of the program.

6555th Aerospace Test Group Military unit

The 6555th Aerospace Test Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Eastern Space and Missile Center and stationed at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 October 1990.

OV2-1 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 2-1, the first satellite of the second series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program, was an American life science research satellite. Its purpose was to determine the extent of the threat posed to astronauts by the Van Allen radiation belts. Launched 15 October 1965, the mission resulted in failure when the upper stage of OV2-1's Titan IIIC booster broke up.

OV1-1 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 1-1, was the first satellite in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. OV1-1 was an American Earth science research satellite designed to measure radiation, micrometeoroid density, and magnetic fields in orbit. Launched 21 January 1965, the mission resulted in failure when, after a successful launch of its Atlas booster, OV1-1's onboard Altair motor failed to fire.

OV1-3 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 1-3, was the second satellite in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. OV1-3 was an American life science research satellite designed to measure the effects of orbital radiation on the human body. Launched 28 May 1965, the mission resulted in failure when its Atlas booster exploded two minutes after launch.

OV1-2 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 1-2, launched 5 October 1965, was the third, and first successful, satellite in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. A radiation measuring satellite designed to conduct research for the planned Manned Orbital Laboratory project, OV1-2 was the first American spacecraft to be placed into orbit on a western trajectory. The satellite stopped functioning in April 1967 after a series of technical problems starting two months after launch.

OV2-3 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 2-3, the second satellite of the second series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program, was an American solar astronomy, geomagnetic and particle science research satellite. Launched 22 December 1965 along with three other satellites, the mission resulted in failure when the spacecraft failed to separate from the upper stage of its Titan IIIC.

OV1-4 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 1-4, launched 30 Mar 1966, was the fourth, and second successful, satellite in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. OV1-4 was a long-term bioscience and materials science satellite, designed to return data relevant to long-term human presence in space. Its launch marked the first time two satellites were placed into orbit side by side with each other.

OV3-1 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 3-1, launched 22 April 1966, was the first satellite in the OV3 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. The satellite measured radiation above the Earth, returning useful data for over a year. It is still in orbit as of 1 April 2021.

OV3-4 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 3-4, launched 10 June 1966, was the second satellite to be launched in the OV3 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. The satellite measured radiation above the Earth, helping to determine the hazard posed to human spaceflight at typically traveled altitudes. OV3-4 is still in orbit as of 6 June 2021.

OV2-5 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 2-5, the third and last satellite of the second series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program, was an American particle science and ionosphere research satellite. Launched 26 September 1968 along with three other satellites, OV2-5 became the first scientific satellite to operate at geosynchronous altitude.

OV1-7 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 1-7, launched 14 July 1966, was the sixth satellite launched in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. OV1-7 was a sky science satellite, designed to return data on charged particles in orbit as well as measurements of solar X-rays and nightglow. Co-launched with OV1-8, the satellite was lost when it failed to detach from its launch rocket.

OV1-8 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 1-8, launched 14 July 1966, was the seventh satellite launched in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. OV1-8 was designed to test the passive communications utility of an aluminum grid sphere versus a balloon satellite.

OV3-3 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 3-3, launched 4 August 1966, was the third satellite to be launched in the OV3 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. The satellite measured charged particles in orbit so that their danger to space-based payloads could be assessed. OV3-3 is still in orbit as of 29 July 2021.

OV3-2 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 3-2, launched 28 October 1966, was the fourth satellite to be launched in the OV3 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. The satellite measured charged particles in orbit, mapping irregularities in the ionosphere, particularly the auroral zone. OV3-2 reentered the Earth's atmosphere on 29 September 1971.

Environmental Research Satellite

The Environmental Research Satellite program was a series of small satellites initially operated by the United States Air Force Office of Aerospace Research. Designed to be launched "piggyback" to other satellites during launch, detaching once in orbit, they were the smallest satellites launched to date—what would today be classified as microsatellites. 33 ERS satellites in six different series were launched between 1962 and 1971, conducting scientific research and serving as test beds to investigate the reliability of new spacecraft components.

OV1-6 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 1-6 was launched via Titan IIIC rocket into orbit 2 November 1966 along with two other satellites in the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle series on the first and only Manned Orbiting Laboratory test flight. The eighth satellite in the OV1 series to be launched, OV1-6 was designed to release a number of inflatable spheres, which would then be used in classified tracking experiments conducted on the ground. It is uncertain whether or not the satellite successfully released any of its spheres. OV1-6 reentered the Earth's atmosphere on 31 December 1966.

OV1-9 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 1-9, launched 11 December 1966 along with OV1-10, was the ninth satellite in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. OV1-9 recorded low frequency radio emissions and particle radiation in Earth's exosphere; the satellite also collected data on the impact of long-term radiation on biological samples and tissue equivalents. OV1-9 returned the first proof that Earth has an electric field.

OV1-10 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 1-10, launched 11 December 1966 along with OV1-9, was the tenth satellite in the OV1 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. Designed to observe atmospheric airglow, X-ray and cosmic radiation, OV1-10 returned significant data on the Sun as well as on geophysical phenomena in Earth's magnetic field. OV1-10 reentered Earth's atmosphere on 30 November 2002.

OV3-5 US Air Force satellite

Orbiting Vehicle 3-5, launched 31 January 1967, was the fifth satellite to be launched in the OV3 series of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program.

References

  1. 1 2 "OV1-5". NASA. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Powell, Joel W.; Richards, G.R. (1987). "The Orbiting Vehicle Series of Satellites". Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. Vol. 40. London: British Interplanetary Society.
  3. ↑ "The OV1-Promoter of timely space research". Proceedings of the OAR Research Applications Conference, 14 March 1967. Washington D.C.: Officer of Aerospace Research, United States Air Force. 1967.
  4. ↑ Jos Heyman (September 2010). "Intel... The Orbiting Vehicle Series (OV1)". MilsatMagazine. Satnews. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "OV1" . Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Andrew LePage (21 January 2015). "Riding Piggyback on an ICBM". Drew ex Machina. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  8. ↑ William R. Corliss (1967). Scientific Satellites. Washington D.C.: Science and Technical Information Division, Office of Technology Utilization, NASA. pp. 770–1. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  9. ↑ Breene, R.G.; Swant, J.S.; Marcotte, L.P. (1969). "Interpretation of OV1-5 spectrometric observations". Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer. 9 (9): 1239–1249. Bibcode:1969JQSRT...9.1239B. doi:10.1016/0022-4073(69)90111-3.
  10. ↑ A. McIntyre, ed. (January 1968). AFCRL Space Science Research During 1967(Annual Report to COSPAR) (PDF). L.G.Hanscom Field, Bedford, MA: Office of Aerospace Research, USAF. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "OV1-5" . Retrieved 24 March 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.