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Interplanetary Dust Particles of Micron Size Probably Associated with the Leonid Meteor Stream

An interplanetary dust particle event, coincident with the Leonid meteor shower and lasting approximately 70 hours, was recorded by a sensor on the Vanguard III satellite. During this interval the satellite's microphone system registered impacts of approximately 2800 dust particles with momenta exceeding 10(exp -2) dyne-second. The impact rate varied by as much as two orders of magnitude within a few hours. The microphone system was almost omnidirectional, so the radiants of the dust particles cannot be defined. Association of these dust particles with the Leonid meteor stream is suggested by the coincidence in time and by the location of the satellite. Vanguard III traversed five major meteor streams, but the impact rates significantly exceeded the background rate only during this one interval. This is the first case in which a significant increase in the directly measured impact rate of dust particles possibly can be associated with a major meteor stream.

Alexander, W. M.

Project Vanguard Magnetic-Field Instrumentation and Measurements

The Vanguard III Satellite, 1959 Eta, placed in orbit on September 18, 1959, contained a proton precessional magnetometer for magnetic-field studies of exceptional accuracy. Throughout the 85 days of battery life, the instrumentation functioned according to plan. Measurements of the absolute total field were obtained in the meridian belts of Minitrack stations at altitudes 510 to 3750 kilometers and at latitudes +/- 33.4 degrees. Surface magnetic observatories were operated at eight of the Minitrack stations to furnish correlative information. This paper reviews briefly the instrumentation employed in these experiments, and the data collection and reduction procedures. Emphasis is given to results from a preliminary analysis. Specifically, this analysis bears on the accuracy of computed fields, the stability of the earth's field in space, the Capetown anomaly, and magnetic-storm effects.

Heppner, J. P.

SATELLITE ORBITAL DATA

Satellite orbital data for explorer i, vii, viii, ix and vanguard ii and iii - orbital elements

EXPLORER VII SATELLITE

United States Space Explorations 1958

The film describes preparation and launch of five satellites and two space probes during 1958. On January 31, a Jupiter vehicle launched Explorer I into space. Data from this satellite was used to identify the van Allen radiation belts. On March 17, a Vanguard I rocket launched an Earth satellite with solar batteries. Data from the mission was used to determine that the Earth is slightly pear-shaped. On March 26, Explorer III was launched to further study the van Allen belts, micrometeoroid impacts, and internal and external temperatures. Explorer IV, launched on July 26, was intended to study radiation and temperature data. A lunar probe, ABLE I, was intended to measure radiation, magnetic fields of Earth and the Moon, density of micrometeoric matter, and internal temperatures. A four-stage rocket was used in the launch. However, a turbo-pump failed and the liquid oxygen pump stopped, resulting in a failed mission. On October 10, Pioneer I was launched by an ABLE vehicle. First and second stage velocity was less than desired and the probe did not leave Earth orbit. Attempts to attain escape velocity were unsuccessful. On December, a Jupiter boost vehicle was used to launch Juno II, with Pioneer III as the payload. Escape velocity was reached and Pioneer III left Earth's atmosphere. Failed launches, such as those of Vanguard boost vehicles and several Explorer satellites, also added to scientific knowledge.

Source record

The Explorer Rocket Research Program

Since September of 1956, nine Jupiter-C missiles have been launched from the firing pad at Cape Canaveral. The first Jupiter-C firing tested the propulsion system, air frame, and guidance components of the missile, and the second and third firings tested a model of the Jupiter nose cone under realistic re-entry conditions. The remaining six Jupiter-C missiles were used as the launching vehicles for EXPLORER satellites I through VI (Fig. 1). Of the six satellite firings, EXPLORERs I, III, and IV achieved satisfactory orbits. The Jupiter-C missile was designed and developed as a joint program under the technical direction of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Army Ballistic Missile Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed the three high-speed stages, and the Army Ballistic Missile Agency handled the development, construction, and operation of the first-stage booster rocket and the guidance system. Many other organizations have contributed to the success of the EXPLORER satellite program, most notably the State University of Iowa, the Air Force Cambridge Research Center, and the satellite tracking teams of the Vanguard organization.

Robillard, G.