Solar Radiation and Thermospheric Satellite

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Solar Radiation and Thermospheric Satellite (SRATS), also knows as Taiyo ("Sun" in Japanese) or Shinsei-3, [1] was a space probe developed by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) at the University of Tokyo. The probe was launched on February 24, 1975, from Kagoshima Space Center by M-3C-2 rocket. Its mission was focused on upper atmospheric physics, X-ray and UV solar radiation, and the Earth's ionosphere. Taiyo completed its mission before re-entering Earth's atmosphere on June 29, 1980. [2]

Contents

The satellite had a shape of octagonal cylinder (or prism), weighing 86 kg. It orbited the Earth in an elliptical orbit with a periapsis of 260 km and an apoapsis of 3,140 km, at a 32-degree inclination. The satellite's primary goal was to investigate solar X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, and the distribution of ions and electrons in the Earth's upper atmosphere. [2] [3]

Instruments

Taiyo had seven science instruments: [2]

Further reading

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References

  1. Darling, David. "Taiyo". www.daviddarling.info. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "DARTS for Astrophysics". DARTS at ISAS/JAXA. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  3. "TAIYO | Spacecraft". ISAS. Retrieved 22 October 2024.