An Educational Services Publication of the

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

EXPLORER X X I Source of Acquisibon

NASA contractor~~rantee

THE AIR SATELLITE

The 12-foot diameter Explorer XIX is inflation tested. At upper left of sphere are solar cells
that convert sunlight to electricity for powering the satellite's radio transmitter.

THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE

Explorer XIX i s one of a series of satellites
designed t o increase knowledge about air den-
sities a t altitudes above a hundred miles. Such
information is important not only for the ad-
vancement of science but also in predicting the
influence o f the thin air a t these altitudes on
spacecraft motion.
The earth i s surrounded b y a vast ocean
of air called the atmosphere. The air i s a mix-
ture o f oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor, helium,
hydrogen, and other gases.
Scientists once believed that the atmos-
phere stopped at about 100,000 feet above
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Artist's conception of Explorer XIX in orbit.
beacon and batteries that are attached to inside surface of the sphere. The insulating band
divides the satellite into two metallic sections that serve as transmitting antennas.
earth because conventional aircraft controls
were ineffective beyond that height. Since the
advent of the Space Age, they have learned that
the atmosphere extends many thousands of miles
into space. Some scientists contend that the
atmosphere continues to the outer edge of
earth's magnetic field. This edge i s no closer
than 40,000 miles to earth's surface.
About 99 percent of the air in the atmos-
phere is concentrated in the first 20 miles above
earth. Some scientists suggest that the upper
atmosphere begins at the 20-mile altitude.
Others set its beginning at higher altitudes.
Satellite measurements have indicated the
sparseness of air in the upper atmosphere. As
an example, one calculation derived from sat-
ellite data is that the air at earth's surface is
trillion times denser than at an altitude of
NASA FACTS VOL. 11-2
Cutaway shows locations of radio tracking
UPPER ATMOSPHERE DENSlTW VARlES
The density of air dwindles with increasing
altitude. Upper atmosphere density has been
found to vary also from day to day and day to
night. The density over one geographic region
may differ from that above another. There are
also fluctuations during the 27-day period in
which the sun makes a complete rotation on its
axis. Abrupt increases in air density have
been observed to follow solar flares-sudden
outbursts of matter from the sun.
Air density also fluctuates with the solar
cycle. The cycle i s a period of about 1 1 years
during which solar activity, as evidenced by the
frequency and magnitude of sunspots, s
flares, and other eruptions, starts at a maxim
declines to a minimum, and then again rises to
a maximum.
NASA FACTS VOL. 11-2
Technicians make final check of Explorer XIX payload which i s mounted
on fourth stage of Scout launch vehicle.
3 Scientists theorize that increased solar
activity warms the upper atmosphere and that
as the atmosphere warms, it swells and lifts
denser layers to higher altitudes. As the sun
quiets down, the upper atmosphere cools and
contracts, becoming less dense at any altitude.
DESCRIPTION O F EXPLORER XIX
Explorer XIX is essentially a 12-foot diam-
eter inflated sphere weighing about 17 pounds.
Because it i s so large and so light in weight, it
i s markedly affected even by the sparse air
atoms and molecules of the upper atmosphere.
Scientists calculate air density in the satellite's
path by comparing the spacecraft's orbit with a
theoretical orbit based upon the absence of air.
Explorer XIX i s constructed of a four-ply
laminate, consisting of alternating layers of
-mil-thick polyester plastic film and '/2-mil-thick
inum foil. The aluminum foil forms the
outs~desurface; and the plastic, the inside sur-
face. ( A mil i s one-thousandth of an inch.)
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White circles (resembling polka dots)
painted on the satellite's outer surface contribute
t o temperature balance by absorbing less of the
sun's heat than the aluminum skin. Temperature
balance i s required for operation of the space-
craft's electronic equipment.
Mounted inside of the satellite i s a small
radio that transmits a tracking signal. Its power
i s supplied by a rechargeable storage battery
within the sphere and a bank of solar cells on
the satellite's outer surface. Solar cells convert
sunlight to electricity. They contain silicon, a
material that emits electrons when struck by
light. The electrons are channeled into wires
and, thus harnessed, become an electric current.
EXPERIMENT DESCRIPTION
A principal purpose of the Explorer XIX
experiment i s to extend measurements of air
density in the upper atmosphere to the polar
regions. Prior experiments have furnished
measurements of the atmosphere over other
areas of earth. The various measurements
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permit.comparison of densities and temperatures
o f the upper atmosphere over different latitudes
of earth.
1 Another g o a l i s t o learn more about the
contributions of energetic particles and ultra-
violet light to heating and, consequently, density
o f the upper atmosphere. Energetic particles
are electrified constituents of atoms such as pro-
tons and electrons. Bands o f these particles
that have been trapped in earth's magnetic field
and surround the globe are called the Van Allen
Radiation Region.
Ultraviolet radiation i s part of a family
called the electromagnetic spectrum. Among
the other members of this family are X-rays,
radio waves, and visible light. Most of the
ultraviolet radiation streaming t o earth i s ab-
sorbed by earth's atmosphere. For a long
time, scientists believed that ultraviolet rays
were chiefly responsible for heating of the upper
atmosphere.
,.
Folding of a 12-foot diameter Air Density Explorer satellite. After folding, technicians will
pack it in a metal cylinder 9 inches in diameter and 1 9 inches long to b e launched into
Earth orbit by a Scout launch vehicle.
NASA FACTS VOL. 11-2
In recent years, however, many scientists
have theorized that energetic particles may als
play a major role in heating of the upper atmos-
phere. To help determine how the atmosphere
reacts to such particles, scientists are comparing
data on atmospheric density provided b y Ex-
plorer XIX as i t passed over polar regions with
information from Explorer IX as i t orbited over
areas closer to the equator. The Explorer IX
satellite, launched February 16, 1961, is similar
t o Explorer XIX. I t burned up during re-entry
on April 9, 1964.
The polar areas were chosen for study of
temperature variations due to particles because
energetic particles penetrate the atmosphere
over these areas more deeply than they do
regions closer to the equator. This stems from
the fact that the lines o f force o f earth's mag-
netic field tend to become nearly vertical, instead
of horizontal, at the poles. As a result, the
Right of energetic particles t o earth i s not barred
 NASA FACTS VOL. 11-2 Page 5

as effectively over the poles as over other areas.

The lines of force of earth's magnetic field
can be visualized on a small scale b y sprinkling
i r o n filings around a bar magnet. Note how
the iron filings, which follow the magnet's lines
of force, curve inward a t both ends, or poles of
the bar magnet.

LAUNCH AND ORBITAL INFORMATION

Explorer XIX was orbited b y a Scout launch

vehicle which was fired from Point Arguello,
California, on December 19, 1963. Initially,
the satellite's apogee (highest altitude) was
almost 1 4 9 0 miles; its perigee (lowest altitude),
about 368 miles; and its period (time for one
revolution about the earth), approximately 116
minutes.
At launch, Explorer XIX was folded and
packed inside a metal cylinder 8'/2 inches in
diameter and 1 9 inches long. In orbit, com-
pressed nitrogen gas pushed the sphere from its
container and inflated i t t o a 12-foot diameter.
The orbit of Explorer XIX swings as far
north as Thule, Greenland, and as far south as
the Antarctic continent, enabling the satellite to
cover most of the globe. Explorer XIX i s being
tracked b y NASA radio tracking stations and by
the sensitive telescopic cameras of the world-
wide Baker-Nunn network, which i s operated by
the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

IQSY
I N T E R N A T I O N A L Q U I E T S U N YEAR
On January 1, 1964, scientists of many nations
inaugurated a two-year cooperative study of the sun
called IQSY for International Quiet Sun Years. The
program is a sequel t o the IGY, or International Geo-
physical Years, a study of t h e earth and space con-
ducted by world scientists in 1957 and 1958.
The somewhat incongruous term &$quiet sun" has its
origin i n observations made during many years which
indicated, as noted previously, that the tempo of solar
activity follows a cycle of roughly 11 years, beginning
a t peak solar activity, dropping t o a low, and rising
again to a maximum.
IQSY is being conducted during the time of min-
imum solar activity when the sun is relatively free of
F
Scout launch vehicle rockets Explorer XIX from Point Arguello, solar flares, sunspots, and other eruptions. During
California.
Page 6 NASA FACTS VOL. 11-2

I C Y , the sun was i n the most active time of its cycle
of activity.
A major goal of lQSY is to compare its observa-
tions with those of IGY. Such comparisons and other
; IQSY studies are expected Po yield increased under-
standing of how the sun behaves and how it governs
natural events on and near earth.
The major NASA effort supporting U.S. participa-
tion in IQSY will be the launching of a series of Pioneer
spacecraft on long-duration missions during which they
will cover millions of miles of interplanetary space.
The spacecraft monitors solar radiation and mag-
netic fields at widely separated points in space. Their
experiments are designed t o provide basic data on the
interplanetary environment and measure solar effects
upon the environment.
Data Prom NASA scientific satellites and sounding
rockets are already contributing information relating
t o the IQSY. Among such satellites are Explorer XIX
(described in Phis NASA FACTS) and Explorer XVIIB, #he
first of a series of InterplanePary Explorer Satellites.
(See NASA FACTS-BnterpBanetary Explorer Satellites.)

Deflated and folded Explorer XIX is carefully fitted inside the metal container in which it will
ride into orbit.

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