OV1-9

OV1-9
	OV1 series satellite
Mission type	Earth science
Operator	USAF
COSPAR ID	1966-111A
SATCAT no.	S02610
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	General Dynamics
Launch mass	104 kg (229 lb) with Altair
Start of mission
Launch date	11 Dec 1966 21:09:57 UTC
Rocket	Atlas D
Launch site	Vandenberg 576-B-3
Orbital parameters
Regime	Low Earth Orbit
Eccentricity	0.23544
Perigee altitude	472.00 km (293.29 mi)
Apogee altitude	4,694.00 km (2,916.72 mi)
Inclination	99.10°
Period	141.00 minutes
Epoch	1966-12-11 21:07:00
	OV1 ← OV1-6 OV1-10 →

Last updated December 28, 2021

Orbiting Vehicle 1-9 (also known as OV1-9), launched 11 December 1966 along with OV1-10, was the ninth (sixth successful) 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.

History

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.^[3]^: 417 Five distinct OV series of standardized satellites were developed under the auspices of these agencies.^[3]^: 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.^[3]^: 417 The OV1 program was managed by Lt. Col. Clyde Northcott, Jr.^[4]

Prior to the dual launch of OV1-9 and OV1-10, there had been eight satellites in the OV1 series, the first launched January 21, 1965. All launches had been on Atlas missiles except for OV1-6, which was programmed for launch out of sequence (after the 14 July 1966 launch of OV1-7 and OV1-8 ^[1]) so that it could be carried on the Titan IIIC tasked for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory test flight.^[3]^{: 418–422}

Spacecraft design

OV1-9 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]. It included 5000 flat-faceted solar cells producing 22 watts of power. Two .46 m (1 ft 6 in) antennas for transmitting telemetry and receiving commands extended from the sides of the spacecraft. 12 helium-pressurized hydrogen peroxide thrusters provided attitude control.^[3]^{: 418–420}

OV1-9 weighed, with its attached Altair booster, 104 kg (229 lb).^[2]

Experiments

OV1-9's experiment package included experiments developed by the US Air Force's Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL) to detect emissions of exospheric and non-terrestrial origin as well as a battery of spectrometers and counters for detecting ionizing radiation of energy levels from 1 to 100 KeV.^[2] The satellite also carried a "Linear Energy Transfer" (LET) device and a tissue-equivalent ion chamber to determine the long term penetrative ability and dosage of radiation on living creatures in orbit.^[3]^{: 419, 420}

As an engineering experiment, OV1-9 carried a new system that determined the satellite's orbital attitude using a solar sensor.^[3]^: 420

Mission

Launched from Vandenberg's 576-B-3 launch pad on 11 Dec 1966 at 21:09:57 UTC via Atlas D rocket,^[1] OV1-9 and the co-launched OV1-10 were the first satellites in the OV1 series to be launched into nearly polar orbits as opposed to 144° retrograde orbits.^[3]^: 420

In late May 1967, during a period of high solar and magnetic activity, OV1-9 returned the first evidence of Earth's long theorized but never measured electric field. The satellite detected a stream of protons flowing out of the atmosphere into space moving at more than 60,000 km (37,000 mi) per second. This discovery was reported by two AFCRL scientists, Ludwig Katz and Captain Paul Rothwell.^[6] OV1-9 also studied the variation of proton fluxes in the outer Van Allen Belt during that same period, determining that fluxes were ten times greater four days after May's maximum solar activity than they had been before the flare; it took ten days for the fluxes to return to normal levels.^[7]

Legacy and status

The OV1 program ultimately comprised 22 missions, the last flying on 19 September 1971.^[3]^: 421 As of 26 December 2021, OV1-9 is still in orbit, and its position can be tracked on-line.^[8]

Related Research Articles

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Orbiting Vehicle 1-5 was launched 30 Mar 1966, and was the fifth 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

References

1 2 3 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
1 2 3 "OV1-9". NASA. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 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.
↑ "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.
↑ Krebs, Gunter. "OV1" . Retrieved 24 April 2020.
↑ "measurement of the earth's electric field". OAR Research Review. Office of Aerospace Research, United States Air Force. 8 (3): 19.
↑ Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories Report on Research for the period July 1967 — June 1970. Bedford, MA: Air Force Systems Command. December 1970. p. 169.
↑ "OV1-9" . Retrieved 26 December 2021.

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[log-1] 1 2 3 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 26 December 2021.

[NSSDCOV1-9-2] 1 2 3 "OV1-9". NASA. Retrieved 26 December 2021.

[Brit-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 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.

[proceedings14031967-4] "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.

[gunter-5] Krebs, Gunter. "OV1" . Retrieved 24 April 2020.

[OAR-6] "measurement of the earth's electric field". OAR Research Review. Office of Aerospace Research, United States Air Force. 8 (3): 19.

[report-7] Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories Report on Research for the period July 1967 — June 1970. Bedford, MA: Air Force Systems Command. December 1970. p. 169.

[n2yo-8] "OV1-9" . Retrieved 26 December 2021.

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