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ARIEL h THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Ariel I, the International Ionosphere Satellite, in orbit attitude.

I
NASA SP-119

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL


SATELLITE * Experimental Results

prepared by
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
Greenbelt, Maryland

Scientific and Technical In[ormation Division 1 9 6 6


NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Washington, D.C.
For Sale by the Superintendentof Documents,U.S. GovernmentPrinting Office, Washington,D. C. 20402 • Price $1.50

Library o Congress Catalog Card Number 66-60087


FOREWORD
The successful launching and operation of Ariel I, the first international
satellite, marked a new era of international cooperation in space research.
Although the scientific goals aimed at were ambitious and made severe
demands on the scientific, technological and managerial skill of all concerned
there is no doubt that, as a pilot project to establish a pattern of inter-
national cooperation, Ariel I was an unqualified success.
The scientific payload was chosen to enable an integrated study of the
topside ionosphere and related solar behavior to be carried out. Equipment
to measure the heavy component of cosmic radiation was also included.
Data were collected which have made it possible to study systematically
ionospheric parameters such as electron temperature and concentration
and ion composition and temperature in relation to geophysical variables.
Solar X-ray emission in several wavelength regions was monitored success-
fully and useful cosmic ray data obtained. Despite the complexity of the
payload the project was generally successful both technologically and
scientifically, most, if not all, of the scientific goals being realised. The
operation of the satellite confirmed the validity of engineering designs
which have subsequently become standard for similar spacecraft. At the
same time the effectiveness of certain ionospheric measuring techniques
for use from a spacecraft was established.
The purpose of this document is to summarize the entire Ariel I project
including summary descriptions of experimental results, spacecraft design
and performance, tracking, data acquisition, and data reduction. Like the
rest of the project it represents a cooperative effort between scientists and
engineers of the United States and the United Kingdom. It consists of
reports and descriptions contributed by the various persons assigned to the
Ariel I project compiled to make up a project results summary.

SIR HARRIE MASSEY, Chairman of the British National


Committee for Space Research
CONTENTS
PAGE
FOREWORD ............................................................. V

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 1
Scope .................................................................. 1
Contributors ............................................................ 1
Background ............................................................ 2
Organization and Management ......................................... 3
Satellite Performance .................................................. 6
Related Documents ..................................................... 7

Chapter

GENERAL TECHNICAL SUMMARY ..................................... 9


Background and Purpose ............................................... 9
Ariel I Configuration ................................................... U
Electronic Systems ..................................................... 12
Ariel I Launch Sequence ................................................ 13
Spacecraft Orbit ....................................................... 14

Chapter 8

UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS ..................................... 15


Energetic Particle Measurements ...................................... 15
Measurement of the X-Ray Emission from the Sun in the 3 to 12A Band __ 25
Langmuir Probe for Measurement of Electron Temperature and Density __ 30
Spherical Probe for Measurement of Ion Mass Composition and Temperature 42
Measurements of the Spatial Electron Density Distribution by Means of an
R. F. Electron Density Probe ........................................ 47
Ionization Produced by a High Altitude Nuclear Explosion .............. 56
Ionization by Corpuscular Radiation at High Magnetic Latitudes ......... 57
Observations During a 'Sudden Commencement' ......................... 58
Aspect History and Spin Rate Analysis ................................. 59

Chapter _,

SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS ........................ 67


Structure and Mechanical Design ...................................... 67
Thermal Design and Coatings .......................................... 75
Electronic System ...................................................... 80
Encoder ................................................................ 82
Programmer ........................................................... 84
Tape Recorder ......................................................... 86
Telemetry Transmilh_r .............................................. 88
Command Receiver ...................................................... 89
One-Year Timer ........................................................ 90
RF Antennas ........................................................... 90
Power System .......................................................... 90
Orbital Injection Programmer .......................................... 95

Chapter 5

TRACKING AND DATA ACQUISITION .................................. 97


The Launch Window ................................................... 97

vii
Chapter 6

DATA PROCESSING ...................................................... 101


NASA / GSFC Processing .............................................. 101
United Kingdom Processing ............................................ 116

REFERENCES ........................................................... 119

ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................... 123

Appendix A--PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS OF ARIEL I ................ 125

Appendix B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE ................... 129

°o°
VUl
CHAPTER 1

Introduction
The purpose of the Ariel I Project Results overall description of the project, its organi-
Summary Document is to outline the history zation, and a brief summary of the perform-
and document the results of this many faceted ance of the satellite, its subsystems and experi-
project in a single convenient reference. It ments. Chapter 2 is a technical summary of
would, of course, be impractical to include in the satellite outlining the technical plan and
detail all of the many documents, notes, re- describing its principal physical and func-
ports, etc., produced during the course of the tional features. Chapter 3 provides a descrip-
tion and discussion of results of each of the
project. However, this summary attempts to
cover the project in sufficient depth of detail United Kingdom experiments. Chapter 4
to lead the reader directly to whatever de- describes each of the major sub-systems pro-
vided by the GSFC and comments on the
tailed information he may need on a given
performance of each. Chapter 5 is a sum-
facet of the program without further re-
mary of tracking and data acquisition
search. A comprehensive list of references
operations along with an evaluation of these
and a bibliography are included for this pur-
operations. Chapter 6 summarizes the data
pose.
processing performed by both the U.K. and
A previous summary, NASA Special Pub-
the GSFC. Those processing functions per-
lication (SP-43),* Ariel I The First Inter-
formed by the U.K. that were peculiar to a
national Satellite, outlined the program up to given experiment are described in Chapter 3
the time of launch, April 26, 1962. Some of along with the appropriate U.K. experiments.
the information contained in that document
is repeated here for the sake of convenience.
However, the emphasis here is on outlining CONTRIBUTORS
the events that occurred during the period
This document is a collection of descrip-
from launch to the end of the useful life of
tions and reports authored prior to and after
the satellite in November 1964, and on docu-
the launch of Ariel I (April 26, 1962). These
menting the results of the experiments car- contributions have been edited, revised, and
ried aboard the satellite.
updated to produce continuity. The follow-
ing "-* ----_,.,a_ ,_,_ au_,,,_ ,_,ha hnvo nro-
SCOPE
vided major contributions to this summary.
This summary is divided into six major
sections of which this introduction is the first.
The remainder of this section is devoted to an United Kingdom Contributors

Sir Harrie Massey, F. R. S.


*For sale by the Superintendent of Documents,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., Prof. R. L. F. Boyd, University College London
20402--Price 70 cents. Dr. A. C. Durny, Imperial College London
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Prof. H. Elliot, Imperial College London BACKGROUND


Dr. K. A. Pounds, University of Leicester
Ariel I, the first international satellite,
Dr. J. J. Quenby, Imperial College London
was designed to contribute to man's knowl-
Prof. J. Sayers, University of Birmingham
edge of the ionosphere and its complex rela-
Mr. U. Samir, University College London tion to the sun.
Mr. J. Wager, University of Birmingham
This project developed from proposals
Dr. A. P. Willmore, University College London
made in 1959 to NASA by the British Na-
United States Contributors tional Committee on Space Research. These
proposals were in response to a United States
(National Aeronautics and Space Administra- offer to the Committee on Space Research
tion, Goddard Space Flight Center) (COSPAR) of the International Council of
R. C. Baumann R.G. Martin Scientific Unions to launch scientific experi-
R. E. Bourdeau W.H. Meyer ments or complete satellites prepared by
scientists of other nations. The content of
A. Buige M. Schach
the program and the division of responsibility
T. D. Clem J.C. Schaffert
between NASA and the British Committee
P. T. Cole J.T. Shea
were agreed upon during discussions that
C. V. Creveling L. Slifer took place in late 1959 and early 1960. Sub-
A. G. Ferris J.K. Steckel sequently, the NASA Administrator assigned
C. F. Fuechsel C.M. Stout project responsibility for the United States
D. Hepler E.R. Stroup to the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).
W. H. Hord, Jr. J.M. Turkiewicz This assignment included the design, fabri-
R. E. Kidwell C.L. Wagner, Jr. cation, integration, and testing of the space-
V. L. Krueger H.D. White, Jr. craft structure, power supply telemetry, com-
T. J. Lynch F.C. Yagerhofer mand receiver, thermal control, and data

I
J SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION

r-- I I
I°°°°A_°
_FLIo_T
_EN,E_
SPACE
C_,RO_ECT_ASA
scOSFCENT
ST
--" UN,_E_S,T¥
COLLEOE,
I__UNI_E_S,T¥
OF
J UN,_E_S,T
OF_
CESTE,

I
I I Il
&DATA
TRACKING
L ACQUISITION INSTRUMENTATION J
LAUNCH
COORDINATION
V[HICLE & I

I
IONS AND

J ELECTRONS

FmuP_ 1-1. Ariel I prime responsibilities.


INTRODUCTION

storage. GSFC supplied the vehicle, was Solar aspect meter (1)
responsible for launch, performed data ac- Electron density sensors (1)
quisition via the worldwide STADAN (Mini- X-ray counters (2)
track) network, and provided a part of the
data processing. The United Kingdom Spacecraft Characteristics
(U.K.) had the responsibility for the design, Size, basic structure--23 inches O.D. by 22
fabrication, and testing of all flight sensors inches high
and their associated electronics up to the Weight--136 pounds
telemetry encoder input. The U.K. also was Spin rate--36 to 12 rpm throughout life
responsible for final data reduction, analysis Lifetime--1 year
and interpretation. The distribution of re- Powerip-on-n solar cells and nickel-cad-
sponsibilities is outlined in Figure 1-1. mium batteries
A list of the experiments and electronic Data Storage--100-minute tape recorder
subsystems follows. The experiments and Antenna--modified crossed dipole
subsystems are described in detail in Chap- Tracking and data frequency--136.408 Mc
ters 3 and 4, respectively. nominal

Experiments Orbit Parameters

Electron Temperature and Density--Univer- Perigee--390 km (242 statute miles)


sity College London Apogee--1214 km (754 statute miles)
Ion Mass Composition and Temperature-- Inclination--55 degrees
University College London Period--99 minutes
Solar Lyman-Alpha Emission Measurement Eccentricity--0.057
--University College London Three complete payloads were constructed :
X-Ray Emission--University College London one for prototype testing, a flight model, and
and University of Leicester a backup in ease of malfunction in the first
Solar Aspect Measurement--University Col- launch attempt. Provision was made for
lege London two launching vehicles, including one for
Cosmic Ray Analyzer--Imperial College backup. Ariel I was launched on April 26,
London 1962. A cutaway view of the satellite is
Ionosphere Electron Density Measurement-- shown in Figure 1-2.
University of Birmingham
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
Electronic Subsystems
The approach of the Ariel I project man-
Telemetry--Goddard Space Flight Center agement utilized a concept of a joint United
Data Encoders--Goddard Space Flight Center States-United Kingdom working group with
Tape Recorder--Goddard Space Flight Center various ad hoc committees named as required.
Power System--Goddard Space Flight Center The basic Ariel I working group membership
Spacecraft Parameters (Housekeeping) Sys- was as follows:
tem--Goddard Space Flight Center
United K':ngdom
Spacecraft and orbital characteristics are
detailed in the following list. University of Electron Density
Birmingham
Scientific Instrumentation Professor J. Sayers Project Scientist

Electron temperature and density sensors (2) Imperial College Cosmic Ray
Ion mass sphere (1) London
Solar radiation detectors, Lyman-alpha at Professor H. Elliot Project Scientist
1216A (3) Dr. J. J. Quenby Alternate
A R I E L I: T H E F I R S T I N T E R N A T I O N A L S A T E L L I T E

MASS SPECTROMETER PROBE

f IMPERIAL COLLEGE

G S F.C ELEC

\ rECT(
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
ELECTRONICS PACKAGE
)CK
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
PROBE
JG
\e
1 ,

HARNESS SUF

X-RAY G)

UNIVERSITY OF LO
ELECTRONICS P4C

BATTERY F

ASPECT SENSOR A!

INERTIA BOOM
e
7
4 ENSITY
a
L
t

FIGURE
1-2. Cutaway view of Ariel I.

University o f X-ray United States


Leicester
National Aeronautics and Space
Dr. K. A. Pounds Project Scientist
Administration
University College All NASA Headquarters:
London Other Experiments Dr. J. E. Naugle U.S. Project Officer
Professor R.L.F. Mr. M. J. Aucre-
Boyd Project Scientist manne U.S. Project Chief
Dr. A. P. Willmore Alternate Goddard Space Flight Center:
Mr. M. 0. Robins U.K. Project Man- Mr. R. C. Baumann U.S. Project
ager Manager
Dr. E. B. Dorling U.K. Coordinator Mr. R. E. Bourdeau Project Scientist

4
INTRODUCTION

Mr. J. T. Shea U.S. Coordinator in the U.K. were decided by the British
Mr. H. J. Peake Telemetry RF National Committee for Space Research
Dr. R. W. Rochelle Telemetry coding under the chairmanship of Sir Harrie Mas-
Mr. J. C. Schaffert Sequence program- sey.
ming In the case of subsystems, the work (and
Mr. P. T. Cole Data Storage contract monitoring) was the responsibility
Mr. C. L. Wagner, Mechanical Design of the individual in charge of a given sub-
Jr. system.
Mr. F. C. Yager- Power Supply Reports indicating progress in accomplish-
hofer ing scheduled milestones and summarizing
Mr. M. Schach Thermal Design the project status were furnished by GSFC
Mr. R. E. Kidwell, Thermal Design to NASA Headquarters on a biweekly basis
Jr. as required by NASA Management Instruc-
Mr. W. H. Hord, Jr. Environmental tion G-2-3, "Program Management Plans."
Testing The U.S. Project Manager submitted to the
Mr. J. M. Turkie- Electrical Systems Director, GSFC, each week a written report
wicz Integration that described significant events occurring on
Mr. C. H. Looney Tracking Systems the project, highlighted problem areas, and
Mr. H. E. Carpenter Tracking Opera- indicated any assistance that was required.
tions Periodic presentations on the Ariel I proj-
Mr. C. J. Creveling Data Reduction ect were made to the GSFC Executive Council.
Mr. A. Buige Operations Control This group, chaired by the Director of GSFC,
Mr. C. P. Smith Atlantic Missile was composed of top management officials.
Range, Vehicle The presentations covered all significant as-
Coordination pects, such as funding, procurement, etc.
Mr. R. H. Gray Atlantic Missile Emphasis was placed on defining problem
Range, Opera- areas and applying necessary measures to
tions and Launch resolve them.
Director The U.S. Project Manager made monthly
submissions of data for the NASA Adminis-
Management responsibility for the Ariel I trator's progress report. Such data included
project was assigned as follows: the progress made on Ariel I project objec-
Project Management tives during the previous month, progress
made during current month, and plans for
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center was the coming month.
assigned project management responsibilities The U.S. Project Manager was responsible
for the Ariel I project. for the preparation of semi-annual budget
Each country had an Ariel I Project Man- reports on his project.
ager, Project Coordinator, and Project Sci-
entist. All working decisions were subject Experiment Systems Management
to the approval of the Project Managers. Experiment systems management respon-
Responsibility for the coordination of the _ibi!ities were ,ecepted by the U.K. Project
many aspects of the overall program was Manager and his staff, later to become the
vested in the Project Coordinators. The Space Research Management Unit, Office of
Project Scientists were responsible for the the Minister for Science.
ultimate compatibility and integration of the
various experiments. Overall policy matters Spacecraft Systems Management
were decided by the NASA Administrator Goddard Space Flight Center was assigned
for the United States and by the Minister system management responsibilities for the
for Science for the U.K. Scientific matters Ariel I spacecraft system.
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Tracking and Data System Management part of its first passage in orbit. These were
especially important because they were de-
Goddard Space Flight Center was assigned
signed to provide confirmation of the way
system management responsibilities for the
the release mechanism for aerials, booms and
Ariel I tracking and data system. Acquired
solar paddles which should come into play
data were sent to the United Kingdom after
soon after separation from the final stage
processing (digitizing), and the U.K. was
rocket motor, had operated. The problem
responsible for data reduction and analysis.
was solved through the generous co-operation
of the British Admiralty who made available
NASA Headquarters Direction
a ship, H.M.S. Protector, in the South Atlan-
The Director, Office of Space Sciences, tic at the planned launch time. Suitable
NASA Headquarters, was responsible for receiving equipment was fitted and manned.
overall direction and evaluation of the per- However, the first launch date could not be
formance of the Goddard Space Flight Cen- kept and there was a postponement. The
ter as the Ariel I Project Management Cen- new date was not possible for H.M.S. Protec-
ter and as the Systems Management Center tor, which had to return to base, but in a very
for the spacecraft and the tracking and data short time the Admiralty arranged for the
systems. frigate H.M.S. Jaguar to be available.
The Director, Office of International Pro- Equipment was fitted at Simonstown and the
grams, NASA Headquarters, was responsible signals from Ariel were successfully re-
for defining and interpreting international corded.
agreements relating to the project and for Data acquired by the H.M.S. Jaguar was
providing the United States (NASA) co- of particular significance because the release
ordination with the United Kingdom. mechanisms failed to release at the proper
time and in proper sequence. In spite of this
SATELLITE PERFORMANCE failure, by sheer good fortune the satellite
was injected into its proper orbit at the
The overall performance of Ariel I was planned spin rate. A more serious failure
outstanding in the light of several potentially during launch was that of the Lyman-a ex-
catastrophic events that occurred during its periment. Since none of the three sensors
lifetime, the ambitious scope of the project, produced any data during the life of the
and the many potential hazards to the success satellite, it is assumed that a failure occurred
of a highly complex spacecraft. The planned in the electronics common to all sensors.
fully integrated attack on designated areas of Other than these two failures, all satellite
knowledge of the upper ionosphere was al- systems and experiments were operating
most realized during the first three months satisfactorily after launch.
of operation. Events after this period All experiments and systems that were
caused considerable degeneration in perform- operative immediately after launch remained
ance, but the long useful life of the satellite so for approximately three months. In July
compensated in part for this degeneration. 1963 the Starfish Event (high altitude nu-
Launch was originally scheduled for March clear explosion) presented a major hazard to
1962. This scheduled date was slipped ap- further successful operation. The initial
proximately one month because of a minor effect was to saturate almost all experiment
vehicle failure. Successful launch was ac- sensors. However, these, for the large part,
complished April 26, 1962. At a critical time recovered and continued to operate satisfac-
prior to the original launch date, the volcano torily. A more permanent effect was radia-
on the island of Tristan da Cunha chose to tion damage to the solar array, and other
erupt, thereby preventing establishing a components, which resulted in intermittent
temporary telemetry station there to receive and erratic satellite operation for the re-
signals from the satellite during the early mainder of its useful life. Appendix B pro-
INTRODUCTION

rides a complete mission profile summary of ment of a second processing line. The fact
overall satellite operation. that a large quantity of useful data were
Another significant failure occurred after acquired by experimenters was a tribute to
one year of operation. The one-year cut-off the effectiveness of the data processing func-
timer failed to operate. This particular fail- tions, both at the U.K. and the GSFC.
ure proved fortuitous in that it enabled useful
data to be gathered from the satellite until RELATED DOCUMENTS
November 1964. At that time it was judged
that performance had become too erratic to In addition to the specific reports refer-
provide further useful data. enced in the text, there are many reports
Other than the minor contretemps pre- relating to the design, development, and ex-
viously mentioned, tracking and data acqui- perimental measurements of Ariel I. The
sition operations went smoothly throughout reference and bibliography list at the end of
the program. GSFC data processing fell be- this summary report gives the specific reports
hind the acquisition rate temporarily, but referenced herein as well as an additional
the situation was remedied by the establish- bibliography of related documents.
CHAPTER 2

General Technical Summary


The purpose of this chapter is to establish integrated assault on unknowns connected
the technical background of the program, with the sun-ionosphere relation. Toward
outline the overall technical plan, and provide this end six specific experiments were de-
a frame of reference for the more detailed signed and installed aboard the spacecraft.
description of the experiments and spacecraft Of the six specific experiments carried on
given in Chapters 3 and 4, respectively. board, five are closely interrelated and pro-
vide concurrent measurement of two impor-
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
tant types of solar emission and the resulting
In determining the experiments to be car- changing states of the ionosphere. Table 2-1
ried out by Ariel I, every effort was made identifies the various experiments by func-
not to duplicate experiments already per- tional groups.
formed or underway by the U.S. and Russia. The three ionospheric experiments meas-
Simultaneously, experiments were selected ured electron density and temperature as well
to (1) take advantage of techniques devel- as the composition and temperature of posi-
oped in the U.K. as part of the Skylark tive ions. The two solar emission experi-
sounding rocket program, and (2) provide an ments were designed to monitor the intensity

TABLE 2-1.

Experiment Functional Groups

Solar Emission/Ionosphere
Cosmic Ray

Solar Emission Ionosphere

Solar Lyman-a Emission- Electron Temperature Cerenkov Detector-


Chromospherlc Radiation and Density-Modified Analysis of Energy
Langmuir Probe gpectrum vs. Magnetic
X-Ray Emission- Field
Corona Radiation Ion Mass Composition
and Temperature-
Mass Spectrometer

Electron Density-
Plasma Dielectric
Constant
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

of radiation from the sun in the ultraviolet the Lyman-alpha radiation is relatively con-
(Lyman-alpha) and x-ray bands of the solar stant but that x-ray emissions are quite
radiation spectrum. Lyman-alpha radia- variable with solar conditions• Unfortu-
tions originate in the sun's chromosphere nately the Lyman-alpha experiment failed at
(solar surface), while x-rays originate far- launch and no data were gathered from this
ther out in the area around the sun known as experiment.
the corona. Previous work has shown that The sixth experiment measured primary

SENSOR BOOM, ELECTRON TEMPERATURE

DE-SPIN MECHANISM SOLAR PADDLE NO. 4 ANTENNA


VIBRATION EXPERIMENT

MASS SI_CTROME TER ANA _YZER


CosMIC RAY I/LYMAN'ALPHA
J
___GAGE (3)
""
/_..fly.INERTIA BOOM SOLAR PADDLE_____NO. 1

• " ,-:,:!! •i • "-"_


• • , i ':
""'. "-_:_"".• ' : . Ii;I/-
,/'.'!i"'""" ::::1:1

P LO E ELO C--------.... I
DELTA SHIELD
OUTLINE I _ I _ II'lll'l'l_rll'l'l
_I , I _ _SOLAR PADDLEHINGE RELEASE
MECHANISMS
iwj,
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 \
INCHES SENSOR BOOM, ELECTRON DENSITY

DE-SPIN TERMINAL BOARD (2)

_,/,/PAY LOAD ENVELOPE _ VIBRATION EXPERIMENT

_ ELECTRONICS
/

,"
'..r'a.

..,_. • _
PASyTt:AD= FR: NG "_'X. RAy GAGE 7

- _A _,.,,-,.3 _
SO:'_::_'DDL
"''__ x- 248-
SURFACE ASPECT SENSOR / XmRAY C_AGE SOLAR PADDLE MOTOR
SOLARCELL,MODULE
I,l,l,l,_,l,t,l,l,l,I
I'1'1'1'1'1'1'1'1'1'1
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
INCHES

FIGURE 2--1• Ariel I satellite--Delta vehicle compatibility view•

l0
GENERAL TECHNICAL SUMMARY

cosmic rays by means of a Cerenkov detector GSFC ELECTRONIC

/ PACI<
carried on board the Ariel I. Simultane-
"ARNESS
SUPPO_T%/_
ously, measurements of secondary cosmic
rays were made by means of ground observa- _ ._Y/V_N-ALPHA DETECTOR

tion and by means of aircraft, balloons, etc. UNIVERSITY_-----_'7_" \ ._._._--ntc¢_ ") _..-2',_2_\\
COLLEGE _ _(/'_ //_ _ ).'_k.'_-I-YEAR CLOCK

In addition to the principal experiments ELECTRONICS If _'x-_-_ _/_j / _ v_,_

listed above, which are essentially scientific, PAC KA GES k k\_ _/_ _//'_" _ ,u_ TURN-ON PLUG

other experiments of an engineering and ,AT,ER*


PACK
_--1_%
,_A\,/\,_
housekeeping nature were included. The
GSFC ELECTRONIC PACK
satellite was originally planned to be launched
ACDgrT c_,cr_ / _ _ UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
aboard a Scout vehicle, but this was later _°_'S_/_'l_ / \ _ ELECTRONICS PACKAGE

changed to a Thor-Delta vehicle. This / CONNECTOR


B_CKET
TAPERECORDER
PLUG
change necessitated an adaptor (the Delta
Dutchman) at the spacecraft-vehicle inter- FIGURE 2--2. Ariel I main shell plan view.

face which was used to house a solar aspect


and spin rate sensor, for sensing these func-
tions prior to separation and a sensor de- purposes of this description--is also consid-
signed to detect contamination of thermal ered as the vertical axis. At the bottom of
the satellite was a 93/a-inch-diameter fourth-
coatings. Also housed in this adaptor was a
stage separation flange, within which were
vibration experiment designed to provide a
mounted the electron temperature gage and
vibration profile of the vehicle during pow-
ered flight. the tape recorder.
Four solar panels extended horizontally
In addition to the Dutchman experiments,
from midway up the lower spherical section,
there were housekeeping temperature sensors
at 90 degree intervals around the satellite
and an attitude and spin rate sensor in the
circumference.
spacecraft. These may be classified as ex-
Offset 45 degrees circumferentially from
periments in that their functional relation-
the solar paddles, opposite and exactly coun-
ship to other spacecraft systems is essentially
terbalancing one another, and extending
the same as that of the scientific experiment.
radially in the same horizontal plane are two
ARIEL I CONFIGURATION booms with nominal lengths of four feet.
The end of one boom accommodates the two
Figures 2-1 and 2-2 provide essential ma- circular capacitor plates of the electron
jor component outlines and relative positions density sensor. Electronics associated with
for Ariel I. Its basic configurations, which this experiment were housed in a 41/_-inch-
had to fit the envelope of the Delta Vehicle's diameter by 61_-inch-long cylinder mounted
payload compartment, was that of a cylinder on the boom close to the main body of the
102¼6 inches long and 23 inches in diam- satellite. At the end of the other boom was
eter. The main element of each closure was a second electron temperature gage, whose
a spherical section whose large (inboard) electronics were located inside the satellite.
terminator circle was 8_G inches in diam- In the same horizontal plane as the electron
eter. Each spherical section was 5_/_ inches tcmperature and density boom, two inertia
long and had an outer surface radius of booms were mounted. These were provided
curvature of 131/2 inches. To this basic to establish a proper spin-to-tumble ratio.
22-inch-high configuration were attached the With the exception of a 31/_-inch-diameter
variouS elements necessary for the support hemispherical solar aspect sensor, the central
and conduct of the several experiments in the cylindrical section was free of protuberances.
system. On top of the satellite, in line with the spin
The spin axis of the satellite was the cen- axis, was a five-inch-diameter cylinder con-
tral (z) axis of the cylinder, which--for taining the cosmic ray Cerenkov detector.

ll
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Above this, on an eight-inch-long conical and located 45 degrees up and down from the
cylindrical section tapering from a three- equator and directly opposite the Lyman-
inch to one-inch diameter was a four-inch- alpha gages.
diameter ion mass sphere whose center of
mass is located 14 inches above the forward ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
face of the main body. Relationships among the major electronic
Four turnstile antennas, spaced circum- subsystems are shown in figure 2-3. In
ferentially at 90 degrees and angling up at general the probes, conditioning circuits,
45 degrees, were mounted on the top spherical and subcarrier oscillators were designed and
section perpendicular to the sphere at the supplied by the U.K., and the remaining cir-
interfaces. cuits were provided by NASA/GSFC. Those
There were three flush-mounted solar radi- circuits shown in figure 2-3 do not include
ation (Lyman-alpha) detectors on the satel- any of those experiments contained in the
lite skin: two at 60 degrees (one up and one Dutchman nor the orbital injection program-
down) from the equator, and one on the mer. These were omitted because they are
equator. All three were in the same vertical not a part of the actual spacecraft, even
plane and in the same 180-degree sector. though they are important parts of the pro-
There were two proportional x-ray counters gram.

CONDITIONING CIRCUITS AND POWER SYSTEMS--ENCOD ER-


PROBES SUBCARR1EROSCILLATORS CONTROL CIRCUITS-TAPE RECORDER
|
CHARGING 4SOLAR I J
COSMIC
CURRENT BATTERY A PADDLES
RAY

UMBILICAL
AWAY
LIMITER
I
ELECTRON CONNECTOR . I VOLTAGE
DENSITY TO BLOCK
- ;, ,M,TER
SHUNTI/ I
_'_N-ON
HOLD-OFF
X RAYS SWITCHING BATTERY B • "_
RELAY BATTERY [ I:RECEPTACLE PLUG RP CIRCUITS

LYMAN- UNDERVOLTAGE DETECTOR & _15 DETECTOR FILTER


ALPHA RELAY UNDERVO
SHUTDOWNLTAGE UNDERVOLTAGE
CONVERTER I I
TIMER
NETWORK t

ELECTRON ELECTRON PRIME


TEMPERTURE TEMPERTURE CONVERTER
PROBES (2) CONVERTER
ENCODER I

SATELLITE U.K. COMMAND


ASPECT
I SATELLITE ASPECT CONVERTER
SENSOR RECEIVER

TAPE
ION MASS ENCODERS RECORDER
ION MASS
SPECTROMETER MATRIX, DC
SPECTROMETER
PROBE POWER
UNIT, & MIXEI
PROGRAMMER
J TEMPERTURE TAPE
SATELLITE I
AND SELECT[ RECORDER
PARAMETER S __J
VOLTAGES
SIGNAL
RECORDER -- POWER
TAPE
CONTROL [

FIaURE 2-3. Electronic systems functional block diagram.

12
GENERAL TECHNICAL SUMMARY

150 120 90 60 30 0 30 60 90 120 1,50 180


i

'iiiii!:
_ 60

iili/:.....
3O

150 120 90
J
60 30 0 30 60 90 120 150 180

FIGURE 2--4. Orbital coverage vs. world map.

The major path of signal flow through the 2. Second-stage burnout.


system starts with the probes which sense the 3. Second and third-stage coast and yaw
various quantities and produce a proportional until peak of ascent path is reached and
analog or digital output. The signal condi- vehicle is aligned with its programmed atti-
tioning and subcarrier oscillator circuits con- tude.
vert the probe outputs to analogous FM 4. Third-stage spin-up to approximately
signals. The signal processing circuits, in- 160 rpm and ignition.
cluding the encoder, tape recorder, and pro-
grammer, receive the parallel outputs of the
SCO's and regiment them into serial word
APOGEE (1214 km)

format, storing low-speed data and routing ./


high-speed data to the transmitter for on-line
transmission. When a read-out command is
received they interrupt the high-speed on-line
transmission and play back stored data to the
transmitter. The rf circuits consist princi-
pally of the transmitter and receiver. These
utilize a common antenna system for the
transmission of data and the receipt of com-
mands.

ARIEL I LAUNCH SEQUENCE

The planned sequence of events from nose


cone ejection to satellite separation was :
FIGURE 2-5. Orbital coverage vs. cross section of
1. Nose cone ejection. Earth and Ionosphere.

13
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

5. Second-stage separation and retro- 12. Final rate of spin at the end of 1
rockets fired. year should be less than 12 rpm.
6. Burnout of third stage. Steps 8, 9 and 10 of this sequence were not
7. Coast to allow outgassing (thrust) of accomplished in this order (See Chapter 4),
the third stage to cease. but de-spin was accomplished, and the space-
8. De-spin of the third-stage--payload craft was injected into its planned orbit.
combination (first de-spin) to 76.5 rpm, by
releasing "stretch yo-yo" de-spin device. SPACECRAFT ORBIT
9. Release and erection of experiment Planned orbit parameters are listed in
booms (second de-spin) and de-spin to 52.4 Chapter 1 and a comparison of planned ver-
rpm. sus actual orbit is given in Chapter 5. Figures
10. Release and erection of the inertia 2-4 and 2-5 provide an approximate pictorial
booms and paddles, de-spin (third de-spin) presentation of overall orbital coverage.
to 36.6 rpm. Figure 2-4 shows several orbits plotted
11. Separation of the payload from the against a Mercator projection of the earth.
third stage at a differential velocity of 7 In Figure 2-5 orbits are plotted against a
ft/sec. cross section of the earth and ionosphere.

14
CHAPTER 3

United Kingdom Experiments


This chapter sets forth a summary of the by they control the cosmic ray flux are not
results of each of the United Kingdom experi- understood. A limited amount of informa-
ments carried aboard Ariel I. With the ex- tion on the magnetic fields in the vicinity of
ception of the Lyman a experiment, which the Earth has been acquired by means of the
failed at launch, considerable experimental magnetometers carried in the spacecraft
data were collected and analyzed for all ex- Pioneer V and Mariner II. But such space
periments. Because the scope of this docu- probes can at present only survey a tiny part
ment is limited to a summary of the project, of the solar system, and we must make full
full details of each experiment are not given. use of the information provided by cosmic-
However, an extensive list of references and ray studies if we are to establish the large-
bibliography are included at the end of this scale configuration of the interplanetary field
document for the benefit of readers who wish and understand its variations with time and
to investigate a particular experiment, or with solar activity. Thus, the magnetometer
facet thereof, in detail. observations and the cosmic ray data are com-
plementary, the former providing detailed
ENERGETIC PARTICLE MEASUREMENTS information about a very small part of the
Project Scientists field and the latter permitting us to sketch its
large-scale properties.
Professor H. Elliot, Imperial College, London
In attempting to delineate these large-scale
Dr. d. d. Quenby, Imperial College, London
properties and to understand how the cosmic-
Dr. R. J. Hynds, Imperial College, London
ray flux is modulated by the interplanetary
Dr. A. C. Durney, Imperial College, London
field, it is important to establish with good
accuracy, the energy dependence of the modu-
Project Engineer
lation process. In order to do so we need to
Mr. D. W. Mayne, McMichael Radio Ltd., measure the primary cosmic-ray spectrum in
Slough the vicinity of the Earth and to follow the
changes in this spectrum over the cycle of
The Energy Spectrum of the Heavy Primary Cosmic solar activity.
Rays Protons are the main constituent of the
The form of the energy spectrum and the primary cosmic-ray flux, but measurements
intensity of cosmic rays arriving at the Earth of the energy spectrum of these protons is
from outside the solar system are controlled difficult. Complications arise because of the
by the electromagnetic conditions in inter- presence of albedo particles generated in the
planetary space, which are in turn a function Earth's atmosphere by interaction of the pri-
of solar activity. The configuration of the mary particles, the presence of the geomag-
magnetic fields in and around the solar sys- netically trapped protons in the Earth's radi-
tem is not yet known and the processes where- ation belt, and of energetic protons generated
15
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

in the solar atmosphere. Because of these


sources of contamination, identification of the SPIN 5" DIAM.
AXIS
genuine cosmic-ray proton is not always pos- 4

sible and becomes progressively more difficult q ECCOFOAM


MATTE, WHITE
the further we go down the energy spectrum. PAINTED SURFACE

One solution to this problem is to ignore the PERSPEX :

protons and to measure instead the energy


LIGHT-
spectrum of the much less abundant heavy BINARIES TIGHT
POYtED IN SPHERE j 4"D IAM. PIPE
nuclei. The number of heavy nuclei with, ECCOFOAM
PHOTO-

SATELLITE
say, Z>_6, is negligible both in the Earth's
albedo radiation and in the radiation belt.
CAT" IE SKIN

Furthermore, there is good reason to believe


that by using the heavy nuclei as indicators
of the spectrum there is better discrimination
against contamination by the solar source,
since the ratio of such nuclei to protons is
16 SWG
smaller for flare-accelerated particles than DURALUMIN

for the cosmic ray flux generally (Biswas,


Fichtel & Guss 1962) (1). BRASS CANISTER
L
An accurate measurement of the spectrum ±
of heavy primary particles with Z>_6 in the ECCOFOAM
4_h_ '' DIAM. i

energy region affected by the solar modula-


tion process was one of the main objectives 6 V/DIAM. _,_

i
GEIGER COUNTERS & ELECTRONICS
of the cosmic-ray experiment on board the POTTED IN ECCOFOAM

Ariel I satellite launched on 26 April 1962.


FIGURE 3-1. Cut-away diagram showing the cosmic
The Experimental Method ray Cerenkov counter and its associated electronics.

In the geomagnetic field it is possible to


ascribe to each point in space a minimum thickness 3 mm, viewed by a photomultiplier
rigidity, R,,,,, which a particle coming from tube with a 4 cm diameter photocathode.
infinity must have if it is to reach that point Output pulses from the anode of the photo-
from any specified direction. Thus a heavy multiplier were fed through an emitter
particle detector carried in an Earth-orbiting follower and variable attenuator to a dis-
satelTite enables us to measure the particle criminator, as shown in figure 3-2. The
intensity as a function of R,,, and we can discriminator was biased so that it was trig-
therefore, in principle, determine the integral gered only by pulses corresponding to the
number spectrum in terms of either particle passage of particles through the Perspex
rigidity or its corresponding energy. sphere with Z>_5 and had no response to
As a heavy particle selector we used a protons. The output of the discriminator
Cerenkov counter. In such a counter the was applied, by way of an encoder gate to a
intensity of Cerenkov light generated by a data store consisting of eight binary units.
charged particle in a given range of wave- The contents of the last six binary units of
lengths is proportional to Z_(1--1/fl'-'n2), this store were sampled at intervals of 2.56
where fl=v/c and n is the refractive index seconds by a high-speed encoder and at 30.72
of the radiator. Thus, a particle with Z:6 second intervals by a low-speed encoder.
generates 36 times as much light as a proton The output of the high-speed encoder was
with the same velocity and it is a compara- fed to the telemetry system providing con-
tively simple matter to distinguish between tinuous data transmission, while the output
the two. The form of counter used is shown of the low-speed encoder was fed to a tape
in figure 3-1. It consisted of a hollow Per- recorder capable of storing data over a period
spex sphere with diameter 10 cm and wall of 100 minutes (one complete orbit). This

16
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

CEREN KOV CHANNEL


ENCODER SYNC PULSE

EMITTER k_ VARIABLE

FOLLOWER J_l ATTEN UATOR


¢

HIGH-SPEED
ENCODER GATE
SWITCHING
BINARY

LOW-SPEED
BINARY DATA STORE ENCODER GATE
LOW SPEED
ENCODER GATE

D HIGH-SPEED
ENCODER GATE
GEIGER CHANNEL

J°_,_l_.J _UL_
L__72_'--_
TUBE
I-IAMPL'F'ERI-
I I
f
ENCODER SYNC PULSE TO PHOTOMULTIPLIER

_,,ST,_B,L,ZEDPOWER
SUPPL,E_
,000
Vlllllltltllt
-" CONVERTERTI
STABIL,ZE_ W_ggE_
hlsTAB,L,ZER
7_A'_
_
TO EMITTER FOLLOWER, TO GEiGER TUBE
DISCRIMINATOR, GATES

FIGURE 3--2. Block diagram showing the electronics systems for the Cerenkov and G-M counters.

tape recorder read out the previous 100 min- counted until 256 of them had passed through
utes of data on command from a ground the detector. The 256th particle actuated
station. The encoder gate ensured that the the switching binary which changed the at-
reading of the binary store did not change tenuator setting into its alternate position,
during the sampling period. thereby reducing the phototube output pulse
Because of the possibility of drift in the by a factor 1.8 so that the discriminator could
sensitivity of the phototube, provision was then respond only to particles passing through
made for fill lll-lli_xtb *-,xs.,,._..x_. .......... the Perspex sphere with Z_>6. When 256
changing the sensitivity of the system by a particles in this category had been counted
known factor. This was accomplished by the switching binary was again actuated and
using the variable attenuator shown in the the system counted alternately 256 particles
block diagram in figure 3-2. This attenuator Z>5 and Z>6. The state of the switching
had two possible settings determined by the binary was transmitted by the telemetry sys-
state of the switching binary at the end of tem so that the gain setting was known at
the chain. One setting was chosen so that any particular time. The data could, there-
the discriminator responded to particles with fore, be separated into two groups corre-
Z_>5, and particles in this category were sponding to the two positions of the attenu-

17
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

ator, and if the same spectrum is obtained charges close to a half. The discriminator
from the two sets of data we could feel confi- levels were chosen so that there was no re-
dent that our measurements were not influ- sponse to protons in the rigidity range with
enced by the sensitivity of the system. This which we are concerned here.
periodic change in gain also enabled us to The value of the geomagnetic threshold
establish the way in which the counting rate rigidity, Rm_n., depends not only on the posi-
depended on gain, and so permitted a cor- tion of the detector, but also on the direction
rection to be made for the drop in Cerenkov of arrival of the particles. A second conse-
light output from particles of low magnetic quence, therefore, of using a detector with a
rigidity where fl is appreciably less than wide angle of acceptance is that we must take
unity. a value for R,,,n. which has been obtained by
The detector was to be carried in a spin- averaging over the appropriate solid angle.
stabilized satellite, and was therefore de- During some parts of the orbit the detector
signed so that it would detect particles inci- was exposed to the very high electron and
dent within as large a solid angle as possible proton fluxes in the radiation belt. These
in order to minimize the effects of the con- fluxes might be many orders of magnitude
tinually changing orientation of the satellite greater than the particle intensity we wished
relative to the Earth. In this respect the to measure. Under such extreme conditions
ideal detector would, of course, have been there was a strong possibility that the opera-
completely omni-directional with a response tion of the detector would be affected in some
which was independent of satellite orienta- way by these very intense particle fluxes, and
tion. Such a detector would have been diffi- in order to guard against the possibility of
cult to construct and the design adopted here confusion a Geiger-Mtiller (G-M) counter
was necessarily a compromise. This design was included in the cosmic ray package. A
proved, however, to be entirely adequate and G-M counter has a high sensitivity to the
it will be shown that the effects of vehicle radiation belt particles and gives a clear indi-
orientation were negligible. cation when a satellite is in the radiation
There were two consequences of using this belt. The presence of this counter enabled
type of a detector. In the first place, because us, therefore, to detect and reject any data
of the multitude of different path lengths from the Cerenkov detector which might have
through the Cerenkov radiator, it was not been invalidated through the effects of radi-
possible with such a system to produce a ation belt particles. In addition, the G-M"
sharp resolution of particle charge since a counter provided, of course, data about the
high Z particle with a short path might pro- radiation belt particles themselves and about
duce the same amount of light as a low Z the total cosmic ray flux.
particle with a longer path. Consequently, The counter used was an Anton 302, which
when we speak of selecting particles with had a sensitive area of _ 0.5/cm 2. This
Z_>6 this was a nominal figure only and there counter and its associated electronics are in-
was some response to particles of lower Z. cluded in the block diagram in figure 3-2.
This was not important for the determination The output pulses from the counter were fed
of the rigidity spectrum, since we could safely through an encoder gate and stored in a 14-
assume that the modulation process would be element binary chain, which like the Ceren-
the same for all particles with the same spe- kov store, was sampled by both high and
cific charge and the same magnetic rigidity. low-speed encoders so that the data were
The validity of this assumption is borne out available from the continuous telemetry and
by the results of the present experiment, from the magnetic tape read-out. Because
which show that the measured spectrum is of the length of the telemetry sampling peri-
the same for both sensitivity levels. This od, the limitation in the size of the binary
was to be expected provided we excluded pro- store, and the requirement that the current
tons since all the heavier nuclei have specific through the G-M counter should not overload

18
UNITED K1NGD OM EXPERIMENTS

the EHT supply, it was necessary to restrict by _ 0.4 g/cm 2 aluminum and _ 0.1 g/cm 2
severely the dynamic range of this counter. Eccofoam.
This was achieved by means of a high series
resistance in the G-M counter voltage line, Detector Performance
which resulted in a maximum counting rate The cosmic-ray detector worked normally
of about 60 per second. At fluxes greater until 18 May when the satellite moved into
than _- 89 particles cm-2s -1 the rate of the 100% sunlight. Combination of these cir-
counter dropped to zero because of voltage cumstances with an unfavorable direction of
reduction by the series resistance. Thus the the spin axis achieved on launch resulted in
counter provided either a measure of the par- the thermal balance of the satellite being
ticle flux when it was within its dynamic upset. As a consequence, the temperature of
range or an unambiguous statement that the the cosmic-ray sensor rose above the design
flux was greater than _ 89 particles cm-2s -1 maximum of 60°C with the result that the
when it was beyond it. phototube suffered an irreversible drop in
The counter was situated inside the elec- sensitivity. This in itself was not serious,
tronics container in the position shown in the only effect being to reduce the statistical
figure 3-1. It was surrounded by a one mm accuracy of the measurements. The detector
lead shield and _ 2g/cm 2 of aluminium, iron, continued to operate in a stable fashion at this
Fiberglas, potting material, and electronic lower level of sensitivity until the Starfish
components. Its presence proved to be ex- nuclear explosion of 9 July 1962. Following
tremely useful both for the information it this explosion, very high fluxes of fission-
provided about the radiation belt and in en- product fl-particles were encountered by the
abling us to reject those data from the Ceren- satellite and on some parts of the orbit the
kov counter invalidated by a small response Cerenkov light generated by these electrons
in this detector to energetic protons in the in the 1 to 10 MeV range produced sufficient
inner radiation belt. This response arose in phototube current to overload the EHT sup-
the following way. The glass face of the ply and drop the voltage below the level at
phototube was a disk of thickness 2.5 mm and which the tube had enough gain to respond
diameter 5 cm. Scintillation light was pro- to cosmic rays. Some of the results of the
duced in this disk on passage of a charged Starfish explosion are discussed later in this
particle, and when a proton of energy _ 100 chapter. The G-M counter ceased to work
MeV traversed the glass with a path length at the beginning of September and the Ceren-
of a few centimeters, it could generate a light kov counter in mid-December. No command
pulse which exceeded that produced by a read-out data from the tape recorder were
relativistic carbon nucleus passing through available after mid-August.
the Perspex sphere. This effect has been A representative command read-out is
studied by exposing a spare unit in the proton shown in figure 3-3 where the counting rate
beam of the cyclotron at A.E.R.E. Harwell of the Cerenkov counter and the G-M counter
and it has been shown that the detector re- have been plotted as a function of time for a
sponds to protons in the energy range 80 to complete orbit. At the beginning of the
140 MeV. read-out, on the left, the satellite was near its
The position of the cosmic ray detector in northern apex, and as it moved towards the
the satellite is shown in figure 1-2. The equator and out to apogee both detectors
Perspex sphere of the Cerenkov detector lay showed the characteristic decrease in cosmic
on the spin axis and projected out beyond the ray intensity with decreasing latitude. This
front surface in order to reduce the amount was followed by a corresponding increase
of overlying material to a minimum. The after the satellite had crossed the equator and
University College positive ion probe was was moving towards its southern apex. The
mounted on a stem projecting beyond the double peak in. the G-M counter rate at high
Cerenkov sphere. The sphere was shielded southern latitudes was produced as the satel-

19
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTE RNATIONAL SATELLITE

I000 Reduction and Analysis of the Experimental Data

The basic data from the cosmic ray detec-


tors used in the present analysis consist of
readings of the last six binaries of the Ceren-
kov store and of the last eleven binaries of
the G-M counter store taken every 30.72 sec-
onds. These readings have been differenced
I00 to give the number of counts registered from
the two detectors during each of these inter-
vals. The position of the satellite in terms
of latitude, longitude and height has been
o. determined at the time corresponding to the
i

!
! center of these intervals from the orbital
i "..., data. The corresponding value of the thresh-
Z I
I0 old rigidity, R,,_,, for cosmic rays arriving
vertically at the Earth's surface has been
|, obtained from the table of values prepared
I
# by Quenby & Wenk (1962) (2).
These data, taken from approximately 400
i;
orbits and for satellite altitudes lying be-
; -
",.%. tween 390 and 800 km, were grouped together
to obtain the average counting rate for heavy
nuclei as a function of threshold rigidity for
FICURE 3-3. Typical tape recorder command read-
the two attenuation levels of the detector.
out of Cerenkov (.) and G-M counter (o) rates.
In carrying out this analysis the data were
divided into two groups corresponding to the
lite crossed the magnetic shells corresponding
intervals preceding and following the change
to maximum intensity in the outer radiation
in phototube sensitivity which occurred dur-
belt. The Cerenkov counter did not respond
ing the period of high temperature. These
to these particles and showed the normal be-
intervals were 26 April to 18 May and 4 June
haviour to be expected when it was recording
to 8 July respectively.
cosmic rays. As the satellite moved once
The results of this analysis are shown in
more towards the equator and down to the
figure 3-4. The two attenuation levels have
perigee the rates of both detectors at first fell,
been plotted as a function of threshold rigid-
but then rose to a large peak in the equatorial
ity for each of these two time intervals. It
region as the satellite entered the inner radia-
will be seen that, fortuitously, the counting
tion belt where the lower boundary dips low
over the American continent. The G-M rate for the highest attenuation level during
counter went into saturation while the Ceren- the first interval was very nearly the same
as that for the lowest attenuation level during
kov counter showed an increase in rate due
the second interval. In order to derive the
to _ 100 MeV protons detected in the manner
correct integral spectrum we must make a
already described. On emerging from the
number of corrections and these will now be
radiation belt the rate reverted to that cor-
discussed in the order of importance.
responding to the cosmic ray fluxes as the
satellite moved towards its northern apex to Variation of Intensity of Cerenkov Light
complete its orbit in a period of _ 100 min- with Particle Velocity. The intensity of
utes. Cerenkov light radiated is proportional to
Command read-out data of this kind are (lml/fl'-'n'-') and we expect, therefore, that
available for a total of 830 orbits and about the sensitivity of the detector will diminish
half this number have been used in the spec- with diminishing R,,,. for particles with a
trum determination reported here. given Z. This diminution in light output

2O
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

i ] I I I f I I I I I I I The threshold rigidities which have been used


30.0
v in sorting the data are those applicable at
ground level for vertically incident particles,
20 0
and it is necessary to apply a correction for
the altitude of the satellite and for the wide
I00, angle of acceptance of our detector. In cor-
recting for the effects of altitude it has simply
5.0 ....... been assumed that the threshold rigidity at
_"a--.x_" the satellite, R_, is related to that at ground
level by
2.0
R_=R_.re2/ ( r_-_-h ) 2,

where R,_,. is the Quenby-Wenk threshold ap-


1.0
propriate to the latitude and longitude of the
satellite, r_ is the radius of the Earth, and h
0.5 is the satellite altitude. Except at low lati-
0.25
0.75 1.5 2.53s 6.59.o13.o17.oo.v.
T.RESHO.O R,G.O,T¥ tudes the threshold rigidity, R_. does not
vary widely with direction of incidence, and
FIGURE 3--4. Counting rate of Cerenkov counter the value appropriate to the vertically inci-
plotted as a function of threshold rigidity for dent particles proves to be a sufficiently good
the two attenuation levels before (--) and after
(---) the change in gain of the photo-tube.
approximation. In the equatorial region a
mean value weighted over all directions has
been used. This value never differs from
resulted in an underestimate of the flux of that for vertical incidence by more than
low rigidity primaries. In a hypothetical de- 1 GV.
tector this drop in detector sensitivity could
be compensated by making the gain of the
\
phototube a function of the velocity of the 40
particles whose intensity is being measured.
In order to achieve compensation the gain 30

would be proportional to (1--1/flZn2) -I so


that the amplitude of the output pulse from
the phototube would be independent of par- 2O

ticle velocity. We cannot do this in practice,


>

Z
X
but we can achieve the same result by making U
ua
use of the in situ determination of the count- o:,

ing rate as a function of gain, as illustrated in


figure 3-4. These data can be used to con-
struct figure 3-5 which shows the relation-
0
ship between counting rate and gain for u : 2.7
3.6

several values of particle rigidity. Using


"l- .... _*;_ _,--,, R_2/z_._ / ( l__f121 and the ex- 1.8

pression (1--1/f12n2) -I for the gain required 5.4

for compensation, we can immediately obtain


the corrected counting rate for any particular 6.3
7.2
rigidity from figure 3-5. This correction de-
pends only on the known relation between 0.5 1.0 2.0

ATTENUATION

particle velocity and Cerenkov light radiated


FIGURE 3--5. In situ calibration showing the count-
and on the in situ calibration of counting rate
ing rate as a function of attenuation for various
against gain of the system. particle rigidities. Constructed from curves in
Threshold Rigidity at Satellite Altitude. figure 3-4.

21
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Variation in Satellite Aspect. The direc- 3O I I i i I i I I I I l I I )

COSMIC RAY PRIMARY


tion of the spin axis of the satellite remains
INTEGRAL SPECTRUM
fixed in space so that as the vehicle traces out MEASURED BY ARIEL

its orbit the direction of this axis is continu- FOR PARTICLES WITH

Z_6
ally changing relative to the local vertical.
Because of this we might expect some 'shad-
owing' of the detector by absorption of par-
ticles in the satellite itself. The direction of lC

the spin axis is known from the sun sensor on 8


board the vehicle (Willmore 1962, private Z

communication) and this effect has been in-


vestigated : it turns out to be negligible.
Variation in Altitude o/ the Satellite. In ,(

Z
addition to the variation of threshold rigidity
with altitude already discussed, we may ex-
z
pect the vehicle altitude to affect our analysis
in another and quite different way. The
detector cannot receive particles from the
full solid angle to which it is sensitive because
of the shadowing effect of the Earth, and as
the altitude
angle subtended
of the vehicle varies so the solid
by the Earth will change.
\
This change is of course reflected as a varia- 1 I I I I I I i I I I I Ill
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16
tion in counting rate. Because of the preces-
sion of the orbit during the period of observa- FIGURE 3--6. Integral primary spectrum after apply-
tion and the averaging process used, the ing the various corrections discussed in the text.

effective variation in height is only _25km,


and here again the correction is negligible. this diagram that the satellite measurements
were made during a period when the cosmic
The Experimental Results ray intensity remained rather constant.
In order to determine the dependence of
The integral rigidity spectrum obtained
the solar modulation process on rigidity it is
after making the corrections described above
necessary to know the form of the unmodu-
is shown in figure 3-6 and has a clearly dis-
cernible change in slope in the neighborhood lated spectrum. The best approximation to
8.5 GV. In the rigidity interval covered by
this experiment, the spectrum can be ade- i
,
i i
I
i
I
i
vl i I i
quately represented by a power law with ,341 SURVEY I I I I

PERIOD I , I 'l II
exponents of _ 1.2 below 8.5 GV and _ 1.5 I I MAGNETIC STORM
; I SUDDEN COMMENCEMENT tI I
above this rigidity. We tentatively interpret m
132 ', II ! +', , I I ',
'I, 13E
the change in slope at _ 8.5 as indicative of l i _ i , i l

128
an upper limit to the long-term solar modu- 0

lation process at this time. 12_ : .: i- :


i i i i ii
This spectrum is characteristic of the peri- 121
I L.REL
*
I I
i
*
i
I

od May and June 1962, when the neutron Ii LAUNCH L + I

1962 I I I I I NOV If
intensity at Mount Washington had recov- FEB. I MAR. APR. MAy i JUNE I JULY I AUG. : SEPT. I OCT.

ered to a value lying approximately 8 to 10%


FIGURE 3-7. Neutron intensity recorded in London
below the sunspot minimum value. Figure
during 1962. A indicates periods during which
3-7 shows the neutron intensity measured in aircraft latitude surveys were carried out at an
London during 1962 and it can be seen from atmosphere depth of _ 140 gm/cm '.

22
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

this spectrum that we can expect to obtain explosion on 9 July 1962, the most directly
at the present time is that observed at solar interpretable data being those from the G-M
minimum, when the effects of solar modula- counter. The shielding of this counter was
tion are least. This integral spectrum is not such that electrons with energies of 7.4 and
at all well known for the heavy primaries 10.5 MeV have, respectively, 10 and 50%
but has an exponent of _ 1.5 (Webber probabilities of penetration from the direc-
1962) (3). This spectrum, when combined tion of minimum shielding. The correspond-
with the present result, would indicate for the ing energy for protons is 50±5 MeV.
period May-June 1962 a rigidity dependence At the moment of the explosion the satellite
for the solar modulation process in the 2.5 to was at an altitude of 815km at latitude 52°S
8.5 GV region of the form and longitude 163°E--a distance of 7400km
from Johnston Island on roughly the same
JE:Joo [P/Po] 0.3,
geomagnetic longitude as the explosion point
where JE is the intensity at the Earth of par- but at a higher L value, namely, L=4.76 com-
ticles with rigidity greater than P, where P is pared with L=l.12.
in GV, Joo is the corresponding galactic inten-
sity, and Po _: 8.5. Delayed Increase in G.M Count Rate
Other determinations of the heavy primary
Following the explosion, a sudden increase
spectrum outside the atmosphere have been
in counting rate was observed with a delay
made by Ellis, Gottlieb & Van Allen (1954)
of 20+--5 see, which drove the G-M counter
(4) using rockets, by Pomerantz & Witten
(1962) (5) using an ionization chamber car- into saturation (Durney et al. 1962) (9). This
radiation burst lasted for about 6 minutes
ried in Explorer VII, and by Kurnosova,
and its cause has not yet been positively
Logachev, Razorenov & Fradkin (1962) (6)
identified. It is hard to account for it in
using Cerenkov counters carried in the sec-
ond and third Soviet space vehicles. These terms of either y rays or neutron-decay
electrons. A redistribution of the natural
measurements were made during 1960 when
radiation belt population by the hydromag-
solar activity was at a higher level than that
netic disturbance generated by the explosion
obtained during the present experiment.
would seem to provide a more plausible ex-
Comparison between Explorer VII and Ariel I
planation.
data show's that the flux of heavy nuclei is
dependent on the solar activity cycle in a
The Johnston Island Shell
similar way to the flux of protons in the range
of magnetic rigidity covered by these measure- Both the G-M counter and the Cerenkov
ments. The implications of these measure- detector revealed the presence of an intense
ments in relation to the structure of the electron flux on the L=l.12 shell which
interplanetary magnetic field have been dis- passes 400km above Johnston Island and in-
cussed in some detail by Elliot (1963) (7) and tersects the Earth's surface in the region of
by Quenby (1965) (8). South America (Durney et al. 1962) (9). This
high intensity shell was also observed by the
The Artificial Radiation Belt Produced by the Starfish TRAAC satellite (Pieper 1963) (10) and was
Nuclear Explosion apparently continuously fed by the decay of
r_l_ _.i-^_1 " 4_ _4-_ v._T_-_o_w_'_ o fission fragments located on the L=l.12 shell
brief summary of some of the main results at the longitude of Johnston Island. This
discussed in detail in the twopapers by shell could still be distinguished on 12 July,
Durney et al(9). three days after the explosion.
Both the Anton 302 counter and the
Injection at High L.Values
Cerenkov detector in the cosmic ray package
provided information concerning the artifi- Although the peak intensity in the long-
cial radiation belt created by the Starfish lived Starfish electron belt occurred in the

23
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INT ERNATIONAL SATELLITE

neighborhood of L----1.12, the Ariel I sensors rays and having sufficient energy to penetrate
clearly indicated the presence of some fission the shielding of the counter.
electrons as far out as Lz7 or 8. Figure 3-8 Minimum cosmic ray intensity occurs in
shows a plot of the Anton 302 counting rate the region where the geomagnetic threshold
as a function of day number. The Starfish is highest, that is, close to the magnetic
explosion took place on day 190. It is clear equator in the neighborhood of longitude
from the diagram that the lifetime of these 100°E. Thus we would expect the G-M
electrons was of the order of one day. count-rate to be at a minimum in this region
provided the satellite is well below the lower
boundary of the radiation belt. Figure 3-10
shows the count-rate plotted as a function of
longitude close to the magnetic equator and
300
for a constant altitude of 400km. The sharp
increase in counting rate in the neighborhood
ARIEL I SATELLITE t of 30°W is produced by radiation belt par-
o- ANTON 302 RATE
20C FOR 7 _ L _8 1962
. ticles where the inner boundary of the belt
x
descends below 400km over the South Atlan-
<
tic. A second, much smaller, but clearly dis-
tinguishable, peak appears in the neighbor-
8 lOC
hood of longitude 130°E close to the position
•.-'.',._._.,Vj._:,:,.';_.;':',_.;: L::,_':-;_.9..l'ff :: : -._
;d"_.. of expected cosmic ray minimum. The
dotted line shows, for comparison, the ex-
I I L I I I I I I I I pected cosmic ray count-rate as a function of
200 210 220 2JO
120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190
longitude, and below it are shown the cor-
DAY NUMBER

FIGURE 3--8. Plot of the G-M counting rate as a


function of day number during 1962 for 7__
L_8. The ordinate gives the number of counts
per 26.9 second intervals.

150
Increased Count Rates Associated with Other Nuclear
Explosions
x

Figure 3-9 shows a plot of the G-M counter


rate against day number for the field rcgion
lO(
1.0<L_<I.1 prior to Starfish. The large, T
o
short-lived spikes in this diagram appear to U

have been associated with atmospheric ex-


Z
plosions in the Dominic series. o

so _-
Charged Particle Flux in the Equatorial Region Below
Radiation Belt i L,
When the satellite is outside the boundaries i.............L
. J.-...,........ ,.......
o
of the trapped radiation zone the G-M counter 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190

provides a measure of the total cosmic ray DAY NUMBER

flux including both protons and heavier FIGURE 3-9. Plot of the G-M counting rate close to
nuclei. Also included in this flux are those
the magnetic equator for 1.0_-L<I.1. The
splash and re-entrant albedo particles gener- ordinate gives the number of counts per 26.9
ated in the atmosphere by the primary cosmic second intervals.

24
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

1.6

1.4

1.2

_1-c
u_

00.8
z .. EXPECTED COSMIC RAY VAR IATION 1
........ "" "''. ..ON SAME SCALE l"
_0._
............. ......... ...... ....''""
3
0.4 Ioi I ol I I I I I I I I l I I I I I
160 120 80 ° 40 ° 0 ° 40 ° 80 ° 120 ° 160 ° ]
WEST LONGITUDE EAST

1"12_

_3E 11o_
1.o8_
o .32 _ 1.14
T-06_

_.2_ 1.04__

Z L 1"00::

_.24l o.98
" i i I

FIGURE 3-10. The'G-M count rate close to the mag-


netic equator or at an altitude of 400 km of
longitude. Corresponding values of the McIlwain FmURE 3-11. The G-M count rate close to the mag-
"L" parameter and the magnetic field strength netic equator at altitudes of 800 km and 400 km
are also shown epoch being Day 117 to Day 130, plotted as a function of longitude. Epochs are
1962. Day 151 to Day 162 and Day 180 to Day 190,
1962 respectively.

responding horizontal magnetic field strength


and L-value. The reason for the enhanced counting rate
at low altitude has not been established. In
Similar counting-rate data are shown in
figure 3-11 for two altitudes at later times. view of the minimum that exists between the
At an altitude of 800km the high count-rate region of high counting rate and the lower
due to the radiation belt is, of course, encoun- edge of the radiation belt, it seems unlikely
tered over a much greater range of longi- that it can be due to loss of particles from the
tudes, as would be expected. The data for radiation belt into the atmosphere. It may
400km altitude in this figure, although taken be due to a peculiar distribution of the cosmic
some two months later, show an increase in ray proton albedo or to induced radioactivity
count-rate in the region of 130°E similar to in the satellite resulting from irradiation by
that shown in figure 3-10. It will be ob- protons of the inner radiation belt. Further
served that in each case the rate at 400km work is being done to settle this question.
altitude is greater than that at 800km in this
MEASUREMENT OF THE X-RAY EMISSION
region. Figure 3-12 shows a vertical profile
FROM THE SUN IN THE 3 TO 12A BAND
of the counting rate in the region of peak
intensity. In this figure it can be seen that Project Scientists
the counting-rate at first decreases with in-
creasing altitude and then, after passing Dr. R. L. F. Boyd, University College London
through a minimum, starts to rise as the Dr. K. A. Pounds, University of Leicester
satellite enters the lower reaches of the radi- Dr. A. P. Willmore, University College Lon-
ation belt. don

25
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

COUNT

RATE
of the window varies rapidly with angle of
X 1345
incidence. Two such counters were used,
with matched characteristics, mounted at
"latitudes" (reckoned as though the spin axis
of the satellite were comparable with that of
60C
the earth) of ___45 degrees, so that the whole
sky is covered once in each revolution. Each
50( .4
I
counter is fitted with a mask that restricts
the field of view in the longitudinal direction,
40(
so that the two counters together have a field
of view which is a sector of 30-degree in-
30( --

cluded angle.
A block diagram of the circuit configura-
200 --

tion is shown in Figure 3-13. The counter is


100
supplied from an extra high tension (EHT)
generator, which was a dc-to-dc converter op-
%o 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 _200
erating from --6.5 volts and producing 1600
ALTITUDE KM
volts; this was stabilized by a corona dis-
FIGURE 3--12. The G-M count rate plotted as a func- charge tube. The counter pulses were fed by
tion of altitude over the region of abnormally a gain-stabilized linear amplifier to a dis-
high intensity bounded by 0 ° and 20°N latitude criminator with a variable bias level. The
and 100 ° and 130°E longitude. The estimate gives discriminator output passed through a gate t_
the number of counts recorded per 1345 seconds.
a 15-stage binary counter capable of counting
equally spaced pulses at a one megacycle rate.
Project Engineers The gate circuit is operated by a one-second
pulse from the high-speed encoder, so timed
Mr. J. Ackroyd, Bristol Aircraft Company
that the scaler read-out always occurred in
Dr. P. J. Bowen, University College London
the "off" period of the gate. Closing the gate
Mr. P. Walker, Bristol Aircraft Company
also operated a staircase generator, which
produced a waveform of five equal steps used
The Experiment
to obtain the discriminator bias level. Thus,
The wavelength region selected for this the discriminator automatically moved on at
observation was 3 to 12A, in which the solar the end of each counting period to the next
emission is highly variable and is a sensitive wavelength interval, until the range from 3
indication of solar conditions. ]'he circuits to 12A has been covered in five steps of equal
were designed, for this reason, to have a wide quantum energy interval, after which the
dynamic range. The radiation detectors process was repeated.
were proportional counters, filled with argon In general, the sun was in the field of view
and methane as a quenching gas, and using for a time rather shorter than one second,
25tL beryllium windows, which have a high so that the effective counting time was less
quantum efficiency in the 3 to 12A region. than one second. The actual time was deter-
Each counter had three windows, each 0.5 mined from the spin rate measurement.
millimeter in diameter. The windows were Moreover, there is only a 1:12 chance that
spaced at 30 degree intervals around the the sun will be in the field of view in any
circumference, giving the counter a field of given gate period. Thus, the counters not
view of 90 degrees in the plane normal to its only observed the sun but also the background
axis, without the radiation angle of incidence radiation from the rest of the sky. On the
exceeding 15 degrees. This condition of average, 5 x 12--or 60--telemeter periods of
nearly normal incidence was necessary be- 5.12 seconds were required to obtain a com-
cause, near the cutoff at 13A, the transmission plete solar spectrum.

26
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

OUTPUT TO OUtpUT TO
HIGH SPEED ENCODER HIGH SPEED ENCODER

._EHT (X-RAY GENERATOR


BOARD 5) J J'- ......

......... ! ° .,z
_NA_
S,GNAL
P_O_ JTER
cx, _D_ STA
!3, _UT TO

/ ....

EHT II

BINARY NO.7 - - ] ..... Lg_


I
BINARY NO,8

RESET •

I I STEP ON
I
t
I
I

I
(X-RAY BOARD 2) Ii
L__

COMMAND PULSE
PULSE SEQUENCE DIAGRAM o,
ALL 0 _ ÷6.7V CODE 5F
,_---
i ......... - -

_4-T 2 MILLUSEC

GENERATED PULSE _ ........... +IOV


RESET & STEP ON _-- _--_-------22 ------ .......... OV

'_-10V
t
COMMAND PULSE
+ 6.7V
ALL 0 I J - 2.7V

COMMAND PULSE _ 4- 6.7V


ALL 3 I
1 L] ......... ov
GENERATED I_- ......... 0V

PULSE GATE _I_AI_ _1_ < -2.7V

FICURE 3-13. X-ray spectrometer functional block diagram.

The high-speed encoder was used to sample crease in signal amplification, resulted in
the binary outputs of all 15 scalers. For the movement of the wavelength band, initially
low-speed encoder the necessary information 4-14A, toward shorter wavelengths. In prin-
capacity was not available, so the outputs of ciple the flight data can be corrected for this
the central eight scalers were combined to shift, but this has not been done beyond the
provide an analog voltage representing the interval 6-12 May, since, though the wave-
logarithm of the stored count to base two, to length change involved is small, the move-
one significant digit only, within the range ment to.ward a region of lower detector
covered by the scalers. In addition, the dis- sensitivity, together with the rapid fall of
criminator bias level and an EHT monitor incident flux to shorter wavelengths, result
were also terminated with the monitor on in generally low counting rates. The pres-
the high-speed encoder only. ence of a fluctuating 'noise' count generated
by geomagnetically trapped particles makes
Experiment Results
evaluation of such data extremely uncer-
n_a.._-;_ o. 9 +h_ h;gh-.qno.ed data recorded tain. The available X-ray data therefore
during the first satellite pass over the Blossom are from the period 26 April to 12 May, 1962,
Point Minitrack station showed that the with an average of about four daylight hours
spectrometer was operating correctly in orbit. of data per day.
It continued to function thereafter until 1 The minimum detectable X-ray flux was
November, 1962. Subsequent detailed anal- set by the background counting rate in orbit.
ysis revealed a small calibration shift in the This was found to vary between 1 and 1.5
spectrometer, becoming apparent after 6 counts per spectrometer channel per second
May. This shift, which was due to a de- outside the radiation belts, giving X-ray flux

27
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

limits of 3.10 -4 erg cm-'-' sec -1 below 14A and Neither noise increase nor ionospheric effects
10 -_ erg cm-" sec -1 for less than 8A. The have been reported for this flare. The X-ray
solar flux soon after launch was determined to record extends from 1153 to 1202 U. T.,
be an order of magnitude above the detection covering the reported Ha maximum at 1159
limit. Thereafter it fell by a factor of 5 to U.T. The absence of records from sixteen
the 6th of May and then rose again towards flares in this period results from the satellite
the 12th of May, in general correlation with being in the Earth's shadow, from radiation
the plage, coronal green line and 2800 Mc belt interference and from periods of no
radio flux indices. This is discussed more satellite contact with a ground telemetry
fully in Reference (11) [See also (12) and station.
(13) ], where it is concluded that the major Detailed study of the X-ray flux changes
X-ray emission below 20A is derived from associated with the 11 observed flares reveal
local dense regions in the corona. It has a rather complex pattern. In general the
also been suggested [(11) and 12)] that flare X-radiation is 'harder' than the normal
these 'condensations' contributing to the spectrum but the degree of enhancement
short wavelength emission are probably hot- profiles of individual flares vary from those
ter as well, though not all authors agree with with a gradual and long-enduring increase,
this (14). measurable over the full period of the flare
The marked changes in the solar flux ob- (See figure 3-14.) to others in which the main
served concurrently with flares provide the X-ray increase occurs as a rapid 'burst' near
most interesting part of the Ariel I data. The the flash phase of the flare (See figure 3-15.)
McMath working list of flares for 1962 (15) In general both the enduring and burst-type
shows a total of 24 flares and four subflares enhancements are probably super-imposed in
in the period 26 April to 6 May. X-ray rec- a typical X-ray profile. (See figure 3-16).
ords were obtained from Ariel I during 12 In all the cases observed from Ariel I the de-
flares and in all but one a significant en- tailed temporal agreement with the flare
hancement in the 4-14A emission was ob- microwave increase was remarkable. It has
served. The exception was the importance been suggested (reference 16) that with flares
one flare of 1 May commencing at 1150 U. T. such as those of figures 3-15 and 3-16 the long

MAY I

I I I i j MAY 2
12 13 14 15 16 U.T.

2800 M c FLUX 4

(m-22WM-2CPS
-I )0[_ -- _"'_"BURST PROFILE
CORRECTED FOR
GROUND REFLECTIONS
30-
I I
I
20- !
SO LA R
X-RAY COUNTS
I0
II I ii

I'2 I'3 I'4 I'5 16 UNIVERSAL TIME (HOURS)

FIGURE 3--14. Solar flare enhancement of 12A X-rays and 2800 Mc flux, importance 1 flare of May 1, 1962
(1241-1252-14001)) and also importance 1 flare (1353-1356-1430D).

28
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

175 MAX.
The spectral development of the flare X-
radiation lends support to the concept of a
8q
dual-mechanism for the X-ray production.
_u
For example, the near constant spectral shape
observed during the development of the X-
o _ 41
ray burst of the 27 April flare (figure 3-15)
is contrasted with the gradual hardening
observed during the development of a small
enduring X-ray increase of a later flare on
the same day.
160 I I I I
A definitive explanation of flare X-rays
probably must await the high resolution
spectral studies of individual solar regions,
U
w
120 i and these should be possible in 3 or 4 years
using the stabilized vehicles such as 0S0 and
Advanced OSO. However, it is evident that
J considerable progress can be made with fur-
ther development of proven techniques of the
40 A/%....._ _.%.._./:::
Ariel I counter spectrometer type. In this
01 I [ J I respect the nature of the data from Ariel I
13.50 14.00 14110 14.20

COUNTS PER SECOND. has highlighted the desirable improvements


in a future experiment and has proved most
FIGURE 3-15. Solar flare enhancement of X-rays
valuable in development of the sophisticated
and 2800 Me flux, importance 2 flare of April 27,
1962 (1346-1413-1440).
counter spectrometer being built for OSO-D.
Thus :
(a) The time resolution of 52 seconds in
enduring components of both microwave and Ariel I, not quite adequate to follow
X-ray increases are of thermal nature while precisely the rapid spectral changes
the rapid 'bursts' are respectively the syn- during certain flares, has been im-
chrotron and impact bremsstrahlung emis- proved to 16 seconds.
sion from jets of high energy electrons pro- (b) The wavelength band covered has
duced in the flash phase of the flare. been increased from 4-14A to 1.2-70A
with resolution into 26 wavelength
intervals, thereby providing more
complete information for study of the
FLux e0 ..... I
variable solar emission and of its in-
M- cPs - I_ 4 o

fluence on the ionosphere.


I I L L q J,.-J ",._ I (c) The photon sensitivity for the re-
gion below 10A has been increased to
allow accurate reading of the weak
non-flare emission at those wave-
lengths.
_oo (d) A further improvement, made pos-
sible by the command system on OSO,
s
provides for in-flight calibration of
each individual wavelength interval
3o4

UNtV_RSAt IlM_ in the spectrometer.


In conclusion it can be stated that the
FIGURE 3--16. Solar flare enhancement of X-rays
and 2800 Mc flux, importance 1 flare of May 1, Ariel I X-ray experiment was a success de-
1962 (1915-1924-1940D). spite its relatively brief working life. The

29
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

dispersive instruments will provide frequency


X RAY FLUX
8-,4A of spectral scanning and absolute photometry
that together will be an ideal complement of

o 175 MAX
28 CC MC SOLAR EMISSION
the high wavelength
grating spectrometers.
tween the flare radiations
resolution crystal
The comparison
and two ionospheric
indices shown in figure 3-17 illustrate
and
be-

the
,40o

,80o
further power of the low resolution spectrom-
_ (S.P.A.)
eter for detailed study of the relaxation
CYCLES/SEC
times and hence the governing electron pro-
duction and loss processes in the lower iono-
j_ 10 MC DOPPLER SHAFT (S.P.D.)
sphere.

1330 1400 1430 1500 1530 LANGMUIR PROBE FOR MEASUREMENT OF


ELECTRON TEMPERATURE AND DENSITY
FIGURE 3-17. Events associated with Class 2 flare of
April 27, 1962. Project Scientists
Dr. R. L. IV. Boyd, University College London
most important single result is considered to Dr. A. P. Willmore, University College London
be the detailed correlation of X-ray and
microwave enhancements during solar flares, Project Engineers
with the indication thereby of the complex Dr. P. J. Bowen, University College London
nature of the emission. For the near future Mr. d. Blades, Pye Ltd., Cambridge
it seems that the high sensitivity of such non- Mr. R. Nettalship, Pye Ltd., Cambridge

PROBE CURRENT AMPLIFIER

IITEMPERATURE
Ii SIGNAL

II LOT.+
I

2__
PROBE
I L ,,OENS,T
SIGNAL
I
J

PROBE VOLTAGE GENERATOR

j,m ........ I
I I L.T.-
I I

_k
500 CPS 3.2 KC/SEC iI L.T.+
I
I 1
LB

SAWTOOTH

MO N ITO R

FIGURE 3--18. Electron density and temperature probe, block diagram.

30
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

Data Processing Programs Thus, the current collected by the probe is :


Dr. W. J. Raitt, University College London eVp
Mrs. C. Abbs, University College London ip=ioe---kT ,
where io-- (2nk / m ) T eneoA ( A being the probe
Data Analysis
area).
Mr. C. L. Henderson, University College In order to measure Te and io, from which
London n_o can also be calculated, a composite sweep
Mr. U. Samir, University College London wave form consisting of (1) a slow saw-
Dr. A. P. Willmore, University College London tooth wave, (2) a 500-cps sine wave whose
amplitude is about kTc/e, and (3) a 3.5-kc
The Experiment
sine wave also of amplitude kTJe were ap-
This experiment, based on Druyvesteyn's plied to the probe.
modification of the Langmuir probe, deter- A detailed description of experiment in-
mined the local value of the electron density strumentation is given in NASA report SP-43
and temperature near the satellite. Two (17), and since the experiment functioned
separate probes were installed in the space- exactly as anticipated, no further description
craft, one nearly flush with the skin and is given here.
mounted inside the attachment ring to the Computer programs for the reduction of
launching rocket, the other on a boom 1.2m the raw digitized measurements to values of
in length. In this way it had been hoped that the required ionospheric parameters were
the charge distribution about the spacecraft written at University College under the
could be studied and the validity of the supervision of Dr. W. J. Raitt, and large
measurements of electron density assured. scale data processing operations carried out
The results of this investigation are described partly by the S.R.M.U. and partly by Dr.
in Part II of this section. Raitt enabled virtually all the measurements
A block diagram of the circuit is shown in telemetered to the ground, until the cessation
figure 3-18. The probe is a small disk, 2 of the observations near the end of 1964, to
centimeters in diameter, surrounded by a be reduced.
guard ring. This has the dual purpose of The remainder of this section is divided
reducing edge effects arising from the fact into two major parts. Part I relates the
that the satellite skin is not at probe poten- results of electron temperature and density
tial and of reducing the stray capacitance measurements. One of the conclusions of
from the probe to ground. The tuned input this work was that the temperature and den-
transformer of the amplifier is mounted be- sity measurements by the boom probe suf-
hind the probe. The waveform generators fered little or no disturbance due to the
and amplifiers are mounted on a 51/_-inch vehicle motion; therefore, Part I is devoted
card in the interior of the vehicle. to a discussion of the measurements made by
Since the probe was negative with respect the boom probe. Part II is a discussion of
to its local ambient atmosphere (potential of wake effects based on data from the ion probe
which, relative to the vehicle, will be called as well as this experiment.
"space pote_ntial")_ the density of the elec-
trons was obtained by Boltzmann's relation £_LL,

as : Electron Temperature and Density Measurements

eVp The measurements obtained fell into two


nc=ncoe---kT _, groups. The first of these was obtained
where n¢o is the density for from the vehicle, from data stored in the spacecraft tape re-
Vp is the magnitude of the probe potential corder. This provided a large volume of
with respect to space, and To is the electron measurements with an excellent geographical
temperature. coverage during the period April-July, 1962,

31
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

but after this, the intermittent operation of relatively energetic photo-electrons by sun-
the spacecraft and later the failure of the low light would raise the electron temperature
speed data system first reduced the flow of above the gas temperature, since the photo-
measurements and finally brought it to a electron energy would become randomized by
close. In the period April 27th-July 9th, electron-electron collisions. The relatively
nearly 51,000 measurements were received high temperature electron gas would then, by
from the boom probe, and all the ionospheric collisions with the heavier particles, commu-
studies carried out up to the time of writing nicate the photo-electron energy to the neu-
(February, 1965) have been based on these. tral gas so that it finally would be conducted
The second group of measurements was downward to lower altitudes. Hanson pre-
obtained via the high speed telemetry link dicted that this effect would be most evident
and therefore was restricted in geographical in the F1 region near the level of maximum
coverage to the areas surrounding the photo-ionization, where the elevation of the
STADAN stations of NASA and the stations temperature of the electrons above that of
operated by the D.S.I.R. However, the poor the gas might well amount to 1000°K, but
geographical coverage was offset by the long that at greater altitudes the electron tempera-
period--over 21fi, years--covered by the ob- ture should fall to the gas temperature as the
servations. It is planned to use these data energy input by photo-ionization became neg-
for the study of seasonal variations of elec- ligible.
tron temperature. The available observations seemed to sup-
port this view, as was shown in the review by
Electron Temperature Studies Prior to Ariel I Bordeau (1963) (23). It followed then that
Observational evidence of the behavior of in the altitude region covered by the Ariel I
electron temperature above the altitude of measurements, the electron and gas tempera-
the F2 maximum was rather scanty. Some tures should be essentially equal both by day
important Langmuir probe measurements and by night, and the electron temperature
were made in 1960 by Bordeau and his co- should not depend either on latitude or alti-
workers (1964) (18) on Explorer VIII; rude.
further evidence was obtained through radar
The Main Features of the Electron Temperature Dis_
back-scatter observations by Bowles et al tribution
(1962) (19) and others (Evans, 1962) (20).
The greatest amount of data came from The first analyses of the measurements
studies of the vertical distribution of the showed this picture to be incorrect since a
ionosphere, the density scale height of which strong increase of temperature with latitude
(under certain circumstances) yields the was evident, both by day and by night. It is
mean of the ion and electron temperatures. known that a similar behavior is not exhibited
For the electron temperature to be deduced by the gas temperature [See, e.g., Groves
it is at least necessary that the ionization be (1961) (24).] Thus, the electron tempera-
in diffusive equilibrium and, although depar- ture could not in general be the same as the
tures from this condition may become less gas temperature indicating that a heat source
likely at greater altitudes, it is still not known was present at altitudes from 400 km to 1200
above what altitude the condition obtains km both by day and by night. Since this
with reasonable accuracy. Moreover, accu- appeared to be more effective at high lati-
rate knowledge of the ion composition and tudes, it was at first supposed that particles,
temperature is also required, though little presumably electrons, were responsible, a
information on these was actually available. suggestion that was later found to be at least
The theoretical situation had been inves- partially incorrect.
tigated.by Hanson (1963) (21) and by Although latitude, altitude and solar time
Delgarne and his co-workers (1963) (22). vary simultaneously about one orbit, by using
Hanson suggested that the production of measurements obtained over a time compar-

32
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

2500 axis (147 days) the variations corresponding


to individual variations of these three param-
eters could be studied. A statistical method
was devised for this purpose and applied to
the measurements. This confirmed the ex-
20OO
istence of a latitude increase of temperature
and showed also that the temperature in-
creased with increasing altitude ; the diurnal,
latitude and altitude variations of tempera-
(o)
ture are shown in figures 3-19, 3-20 and
ov 1500
3-21. Furthermore, it was found that the
electron temperature distribution could bet-
ter be described as a function of geomagnetic
than of geographic latitude.
CURVE ALTITUDE Km
1000 Ionospheric Heating
(a) 40O

6OO Since it appeared that the photo-ionization


80O
process did not adequately account for the
(d) 1000

(_) 1200 electron temperature distribution, the energy


I I I
input into the ionosphere required to account
5OO
18 ;1 24
0 3 6 9 12 15 for the observed electron temperature was
L. S T. (hours)
next calculated. The energy exchange rates
FIGURE 3-19. Diurnal variation of electron temper- between the various groups of particles, to-
ature at a geomagnetic latitude of 40 ° at various gether with some important relaxation times,
altitudes. had been calculated by Dalgarno, Moffatt and
McElroy (1963) (23). They showed that
able with the precession period of the orbit above 400 km the photo-electrons would first
(74 days) or the rotation period of the major randomize their energy. Then the electron gas

(d)

20OO CURVE ALTITUDE LOCAL TIME


km h
(a) 400 00

(b) 400 03 //j


(c) 1200 00 / /

1500

9-/// /
ME
...._wf / km h 10OO

¢o) 6oo 12
(c) 800 12
(d) 800 15

(e) 1200 15
(f) 1000 15

I I I I I 5001 I I I I I
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

MAGNETIC LATITUDE-DEG MAGNETIC LATITUDE-DEG

FIGURE 3--20. Variation of electron temperature with geomagnetic latitude near noon and midnight. The
curves are for various altitudes and local times.

33
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

10C

2000

1500
O 09h I -50 o
• 12h

(a)

MAGNETIC LOCAL
LATITUDE TIME
1000
CURVE DEG. h ¼ \
(°) 40 00 ?
to) 20 12 \
(c) 1.0
20 15 >
(d) 40 12
(e) 40 15 O

500 " i I I i I I [] •
400 600 8OO 1000 1200
ALTITUDE Km

FIGURE 3-21. Altitude variation of electron temper-


ature. 0.1

would lose most of this energy by collisions


with positive ions, raising the ion tempera-
ture, and finally the ions would pass the
energy on to the neutral gas. With a suitable
model of atmospheric density and composi-
0 I _L __ __--J- ....
tion (Harris and Priester, 1962) (25), the 400 800 1200

ALTITUDE (kin)
energy required to support a measured elec-
tron temperature at a measured electron den- FIGURE 3-22. Variation of Q with altitude near lati-

sity can be calculated, and its variation with tudes 50 ° N and S.

position, altitude and local time studicd.


This was done both for the day and for the
less than was calculated by Dalgarno et al.
night hours.
However, Hanson pointed out that the photo-
Heat Input in the Daytime. The variation ionization process will become less efficient
of energy input with altitude near mid-day above 300 km, since many of those photo-
and near the equator is shown in figure 3-22.
It will be seen that at about 600 km, there is
an abrupt change in the vertical gradient, O

suggesting that two processes are occurring.


7
Below 600 km, the energy input Q falls with
a scale height close to that of atomic oxygen, lc o
thus suggesting that photo-ionization of oxy-
gen is the energy source. Moreover, the lati- O

tude variation at 500 km shown in figure 3-23 ___ 1 I [ I


is consistent with solar radiation as the -5O -30 -I0 .I.I0 _30 +50

LATITUDE (deg)
origin of the energy. The actual magnitude
of Q at 400 km altitude and the sub-solar FIGURE 3-23. Variation of heat input near noon
point, about 100 eV/cc sec, is several times with latitude, at 500 km altitude.

34
UNITED KINGD OM EXPERIMENTS

electrons which initially are moving upwards Detailed Geographical Variation of Electron Density
will have a large range in this direction and and Temperature

so will go spiralling along the magnetic field One powerful method of studying the longi-
lines. tudinal variations of the ionosphere is to com-
It is then natural to suggest that it is these pare measurements made at a given latitude
photo-electrons which, by Coulomb collisions on successive orbits, since to a good approxi-
with the ambient electrons, are responsible mation the longitude is the only parameter
for the energy input above 600 km. An ap- to change. Figure 3-24 shows results ob-
proximate calculation shows that they will in tained in this way for electron density in
fact deposit the correct amount of energy at two magnetically very quiet periods. It will
high altitudes in this way. Thus, we can be seen that even at these times strong density
irregularities exist, and that these irregulari-
account for all the major features of the day-
ties are different in the two periods. It is
time electron temperature distribution in
possible that some of the change is due to the
terms of the photo-ionization process, and we variation of local time between the two sets
may note the following points. of measurements, but likely that changes of
1. Since positive ion collisions become in- magnetospheric structure are also effective.
creasingly less efficient at removing the Similar variations of temperature with
photo-ionization energy at great heights, we position are shown in figure 3-25. In this
may expect thermal conduction of energy in case, the effect of local time can be studied by
a downward direction in the electron gas to the statistical method used. It is found that
become important. In fact, it appears to be in addition to the patterns characteristic of
significant at least by 600 km, and probably noon and midnight, another occurs near dawn
determines the temperature increase with which will be further discussed below. In
altitude above this level. every case, the variations of temperature are
closely correlated with those of density shown
2. The temperature increase with latitude
in figure 3-24 in such a way that the regions
is not due to an increase in heat input (figure
of high density are also those of low tempera-
3-23) but to the fall in electron density which
ture. Thus, these variations are indicative
reduces the rate of energy loss by positive ion of the powerful control of the ion-electron
collisions; the geomagnetic control of tem- collision rate over the electron temperature,
perature is similarly due to the variation of since in the regions of high density the cool-
electron density. ing rate of the electron gas is also high.
Heat Input at Night. The lack of thermal The behavior of electron temperature near
equilibrium at night shows that an additional dawn is of particular interest. It was first
heat source, amounting to 0.1 eV/cc sec at shown by BordeatL and Donley (1964) (27)
800 km must also be operative. Presumably that the temperature is a maximum at dawn,
its diurnal variation is small enough to leave though it can also be seen from figure 3-26
photo-ionization as the main daytime source. that this is true only at relatively low alti-
tudes and at near-equatorial latitudes. This
The source of the night time heat is not yet
confirms the explanation of the effect given
known; it is supposed that it arises either
by Dalgarno et al, that it arises from a time
from electric fields or ;tom particles and so
lag in the vertical re-distribution of ioniza-
is of magnetospheric origin in either case.
tion at dawn (which is inhibited by the geo-
If particles are responsible they must be of magnetic field) relative to that of atomic
low energy, and some similarities of the geo- oxygen, so that the cooling rate temporarily
graphical distribution of the heat source with lags the photo-ionization heating rate. It
that of low energy electrons observed in Sput- will be noted that the local variations of tern-
nik III by Savenko, Shavrin and Pisavenko perature in the dawn period are centered on
(1963) (26) suggest that electrons of 1-2 the geomagnetic equator, which is consistent
keV energy might be involved. with the explanation given.

35
ARIEL h THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

_ MAY 24, TO NORTH N E × 10 -4 cm-3


L. S. T. ALT LAT •

00 I15O-J
23 200 "1
22

,214 "1
21

_200 -I

20

1150 "1

19 1100-t

1000 -_

18'

_00 -_

800 "
17-

700 -

600 -

500 -

-60 0 60 120 180


-I00 -120

LONGITUDE

_JUNE20, TO NORTH
L S.T. ALT. LAT N E _ 10-4 cm-3

15. 1100 "


14
54 ' 1
13 I000 -

12
900 -

_
11- 800 -

700- 20 _ 5

10-

600 -
.
09-
500 -

450 -

08-

07-
405 "

O6

05
O4 450

-180 -120 -60 0 60 120 _80

LONOIT(JD L

FIGURE 3-24. Contours of electron density for northbound passes.

36
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

6o_ AL TIME w 07 h - 09
h

_00 ,r'-._1oo
o" -300 .... --2;.._,,z,.
_
_3 0 ,._,_. /

_" ...

-o0 I I I I I ! I I

-180 -140 -100 -60 -20 20 60 I(30 140 180

LONG, DEG.

6O

LOCAL TIME NOON _ /

40

(_ LOCAL TIME
NOON

O
"0
-60
-180
I
-1 40
I
-100
I
-60
I
-20
I
20
I
60
l
100
I
140 180

LONG. DEG.

60
LOCAL TIME MIDNIGHT I

40 _ _"__ )__ 200'*'=_'_'_

C_ LOCAL TiME
MIDNIGHT _ 0 - • /

I\ _-100 _ v_--100 "4


-60 i ! I I I I I I I J
-180 -140 -100 -60 -20 20 60 100 140 180

LONG. DEG.

FIGURE 3--25. Variations of temperature with position.

37
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

lows that of the geomagnetic shells which are


0
marked on figure 3-27 particularly the L__
1.2 shell, which Sayers (1964) (28) showed
to be generally enhanced in density during
this period. It is evident that the principal
change is one of electron density, which then
produced a change of electron temperature,
o since the electron temperature
wrong sense to produce the density
changes in the
change
-500 by an alteration in scale height. The density
change must occur below the level at which
diffusive equilibrium sets in.
MAGNETIC

T// CURVE LATITUDE ALTITUDE


(_ / deg km Part II Wake-Effects
I/ (o) o 4oo
0" (b) c 6oo
I (¢) 40 400 U. Samir
(d) 40 600
-I0001 I I I Electron and ion temperature and densities
3 6 9 12
L.S.T. HOURS obtained by Langmuir probes installed on
Ariel I have been used to study the disturb-
FIGURE 3-26. The variation of electron temperature ances in the plasma due to the motion of a
near dawn, showing the dawn maximum at equa-
supersonic spacecraft moving through the
torial latitudes. The temperature variations have
all been normalized to the same maximum value ionosphere.
for comparison. A wake depleted of ions and electrons was
observed. Evidence is given for the exist-
ence of a kind of "turbulence" in the wake in
Temperature and Density Variations in Magnetic Storms
which strong rapid oscillations occur.
The effect of magnetic activity has been When a body is moving supersonically
studied by comparing the temperature and through the ionosphere, various phenomena
density near a particular location before, dur- occur which are caused by the interaction of
ing and after several magnetic storms. Typ- the body with the plasma. These phenomena
ical results are shown in figure 3-27 for the are due to effects on the moving body itself as
storm of May 27-28, 1962. Points on the it acquires an electric charge by the accretion
satellite track where the density increased of ions and electrons, and also to effects of the
during the storm are marked; no significant body on the plasma. The motion of the body
decreases having been encountered. Points produces a disturbance in the plasma in the
where the temperature fell are also marked; form of a wake whose nature depends on the
it will be seen that these correlate well with specific characteristics of the plasma and the
the density changes, although significant tem- excitation of waves around the body and in
perature changes are sometimes apparently the wake. Such effects can be detected by
not accompanied by density changes. This is direct measurement devices or by indirect
only an effect of instrumental sensitivity, radio-propagation studies.
which is higher for the temperature changes. The phenomena involved in the interaction
Thus, the storm changes illustrate the impor- are of interest both for pure science and for
tance of collisional cooling (both by day and engineering. The local disturbances can
by night) just as do the geographical varia- affect the usefulness of satellite measure-
tions. In this storm only, temperature in- ments on the ambient plasma by affecting the
creases were observed in an area south of the operation of various types of plasma probes
Brazilian anomaly in the geomagnetic field. including Langmuir and impedance probes.
A striking feature of all the storm-time It is clear, therefore, that the knowledge and
changes is their structure which closely fol- understanding of these effects and the phe-

58
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

(_ ENHANCEMENTS MAY 27

UT AT EQUATOR

L.S,T ALT. LAT.


13f8 lo.5 8? 7? si4 3? 2il 2_.* 22,.2 20.6 18[.9 17
1150--
54-
1100--

02-

10(_-
40,
03-

900-

800-
20

700-

05-

G
600-

O6-
500--
20 ¸

450--

O7-

54

-180 -i_o -_o _ .6'o .i_o .18o


LONGITUDE

ENHANCEMENTS MAY 27-25

27
l 28 J LLT. AT EQUATOR
7 9 6,2
L.S.T, ALT. 2i9 0i7 231.0 21.41 19.7
[ 18.0j 1631 141.6 219 11 I" 3 9[6 I i
2.5
23-- 1200---!
22--

21-- 1215--J

20--
1200--,_ 4O-

19--
1150--

1100--

18--

1000--

17-- 9_

800--
2O--
16--

700--

15-
_ _ /
60O'- 4O-

14-

13- 500-

12- 450- 54-

-180 -1_o -io _ .'o el20' 4180

LONGITUDE

SATELLITE TRACK .............. j/ ELECTRON TEMPERATURE DECREASE - _

ELECTRON DENSITY iNCREASE - ELECTRON TEMPERATURE INCREASE - J//

FIGURE 3--27. Variation of electron temperature and density during the magnetic storm of May 27-28th, 1962.
The light lines represent the track of the satellite on successive orbits. Whenever a significant increase of
electron density was encountered in the storm, a heavy line has been drawn on the left of the track. Where
a significant decrease of electron temperature was observed, a heavy line has been drawn on the right of
the track. Where a significant increase in temperature occurred, a double line has been drawn on the right
of the track. (The electron density data has been taken from Willmore and Henderson, 1965.)

39
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

nomena involved are of importance if the tential was adjusted to prevent electrons
results from direct measurement plasma reaching the probe. More detailed descrip-
probes are to be interpreted correctly. More- tions of the experimental technique and the
over, the moving satellite is a kind of model theory are given earlier in this section for the
experiment which may contribute to the un- electron probes, and in the succeeding section
derstanding of the interaction of the planets for the ion probe. [For further details see
and their satellites with the solar wind. An Bowen et al (29) and G.S.F.C. (17).]
attempt was, therefore, made to use the The method of analysis of the probe char-
measured ion and electron distribution near acteristics was based on that of Druyvesteyn
the Ariel I satellite in order to examine the (30) and Boyd and Twiddy (31). Briefly,
effects caused by the body on the plasma (i.e., for the electron probes the method is to de-
wake-effects and plasma oscillations). duce electron temperature from the current-
voltage characteristics by using the ratio of
The Experiment the second to first derivative (d'-'i/dv2/di/dv).
No special apparatus was provided for the Knowing the temperature and current, the
study of wake effects. The study was made electron number density can be obtained.
from data taken from the electron tempera- For the ion-probe the method is basically
ture and density boom and base probes and similar.
from the spherical ion mass spectrometer
Results
probe. Locations of these probes are shown
in figure 1-2. These data correlated with The disturbance of the electron density was
aspect and orbital data made possible the studied by the variation of the ratio of cur-
analysis of the effect of the spacecraft on its rent collected by the base probe to that of the
surrounding plasma. The electron probes boom probe with angle of attack (angle be-
(boom and base) were circular discs 2 cm. in tween the spin axis and the velocity vector).
diameter. The ion probe was a sphere 9 cm. The disturbance of the ion density was de-
in diameter surrounded by a concentric duced in a similar way by using the ion probe
spherical grid 10 cm. in diameter whose po- and the electron boom probe, assuming that

DAY 117 DAY 142

1.0 1.0

0.01 Ii

I
I
1 t _l i i _ t _ I i I I
90 30 90 150 155 90 25 90 155

ANGLE OF ATTACK (degrees) ANGLE OF ATTAC K (degrees)

FIGURE 3-28. Electron density vs. angle of attack.

4O
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

the boom probe, when not in the wake of the figure 3-29). It should be mentioned that
satellite, records the undisturbed plasma be- while the electron base probe was on the skin
havior. of the satellite, the ion probe was a distance
Studying the variations of the current col- from the surface, so that this does not indi-
lected by the two electron probes with angle cate a significant departure from quasi-
of attack, we found the wake to be depleted neutrality in the wake.
of electrons; whereas in front of the body An investigation was made of the electron
there was no build-up of electrons, at least probe characteristics, both boom and base,
not within 20% (density changes of more near the edge of the wake and elsewhere.
than 20% would certainly have been de- Special attention was given to the modula-
tected). The data used for this analysis tion depth of the probe current. From an
were selected so that the effect could not be examination of the boom probe character-
accounted to photoemission. Quantitatively istics under a wide variety of conditions, it
it was found that the decrease in electron was found that the energy distribution is
density in the wake is probably to less than Maxwellian within the accuracy of measure-
1% of the ambient density. (See figure 3- ment. This result is confirmed by the base
28). probe whenever it is in the forward direc-
Studying the variations of the ratio of ion tion. However, when the base probe is near
density to the ambient electron density (as the edge of the wake, the variation of the
modulation depth is quite different. This
difference cannot be a result of an instru-
mental failure, because it was not observed
at any other orientation. Examination of
this behavior led to the conclusion that strong
DAY 161 • plasma oscillations at a frequency of about
DAY 162 o
DAY 163 O 3 kc/sec occur near the wake.
The applicability of Boltzmann's equation

N----No exp (K--_-) was tested using the differ-


ence in space potential at the probes (So)
and the electron temperature (from the boom
[]
probe). It was found that the slope of the
straight line disagrees by a factor of about
2.5 with the theoretical one. This could in-
dicate the presence of very high frequency
disturbance so that Boltzmann's equation is
invalid, or the presence of lower frequency
o",, _,L' disturbances of large amplitude; so that al-
though the instantaneous values of density
and potential satisfy the relation, their time
o averaged values (which were measured) do
G
not. The observations of the preceding para-
I I I I I
180 150 180 150 120 9O graph suggest the latter conclusion.
ANGLE OF ATTAC K (degrees)

Discussion
FIGURE 3-29. angle o_ attack.
Plot of ( NN_ie ) versus
Present State of Theoretical Work. The
majority of theoretical papers published on
measured by the boom probe), we found that this subject have used methods of lineariza-
the wake is depleted of ions as well as of tion as well as particle treatment (32, 33,
electrons, but not to the same extent. (See 34) that were applied to both continuous and

41
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INT ERNATIONAL SATELLITE

rarefied plasmas. Some authors used the nu- conditions of our experiment was about
merical approach which is not restricted to 8 x 10 -4. In this respect we find a discrepancy
small objects and takes account of the influ- with the calculation. It is worth noting that
ence of the electric field of the body on the in a Black-Knight rocket flight (37) we ob-
motion of the ions. However, various sim- rained results similar to those obtained by
plifying assumptions which are made cast Ariel I.
doubt on their direct applicability to the Combining our result about the inappli-
motion of a spacecraft in the ionosphere. It cability of the Boltzmann equation in the wake
seems to us that the most applicable treat- with the fluctuations in the wake as obtained
ment is that by Al'pert et al (35). In that by the probe characteristic investigation, it
work the density distribution for both is clear that the potential in the plasma is
charged and neutral particles ahead and in fluctuating, and the mean potential and den-
the rear, as well as the potential distributio_ sity are no longer related by the Boltzmann
around spheres with reflecting and absorbing equation. It is also possible that the fact
surfaces were calculated. A rarefied plasma that the wake density does not fall to the low
(where the condition A>>R._>,_,is satisfied, A values anticipated theoretically arises from
being the m.f.p., Ro--the radius of the sphere the same cause. For even if the steady com-
and x,,--the Debye length) was assumed and portents of the electric field are insufficient to
the velocity of the sphere (V_) satisfies the deflect the ions into the wake, it is possible
condition Vr(°)>>Vs)>V_,(i)(Vr ('') and VT,") be- that the fluctuating fields might be consider-
ing the thermal velocities of the electrons and ably stronger. Taking in account the satel-
ions respectively). The effect of the earth's lite velocity and the length scale, frequencies
magnetic field was considered, although the of about 3 kc/sec, are low enough for the
effect of the electric field of the body on the field to be effective.
ions was neglected. A wake depleted of both Since we have been concerned with a
ions and electrons was found to exist in the plasma whose charged particles density is
rear hemisphere of the body and quantitative (104-10 '_)/cma the ion plasma frequency will
expressions were given for the charged par- be in the range (5-15 kc/sec). We therefore
tic!e density to be expected in the wake. The conclude that our observations show the
magnetic field was found to be insignificant existence of strong ion plasma oscillations in
in the close vicinity of the body, but signifi- the wake.
cant at further distances. The very impor-
SPHERICAL PROBE FOR MEASUREMENT OF
tant problem of the excitation of waves was ION MASS COMPOSITION AND TEMPERA-
not considered, although its importance was TURE
emphasized. Several other theoretical pa-
pers discussed this problem, but no adequate Project Scientists
theory is yet available nor has the effect of Dr. R. L. F. Boyd, University College London
this process on the wake been generally con- Dr. A. P. Willmore, University College Lon-
sidered. don
Comparison With Our Measurements.
Our results show that a wake depleted of ions Data Analysis
and electrons exists behind the satellite, while
Dr. R. L. F. Boyd, University College London
the density in front of the satellite is within
Dr. W. J. Raitt, University College London
207o of the ambient value. These results
Miss Susan Laflin, University College London
agree quantitatively with the theoretical pre-
dictions of 35 and 6.
Project Engineers
We found that the minimum electron cur-
rent to the probe when in the wake to be Dr. P. J. Bowen, University College London
about 10 -.2 its ambient value. Al'pert et al Mr. J. Blades, Pye Ltd., Cambridge
(35) obtains an expression which under the Mr. R. Nettalship, Pye Ltd., Cambridge

42
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

Data Processing Programs Experimental Results

Dr. W. J. Raitt, University College London As soon after launch as the first digitized
data became available, it was found that
Miss Susan Laflin, University College London
peaks in the second derivative channel were
Mrs. Cleone P. Abbs, University
being obtained whose positions on the energy
The Experiment scale and widths indicated the presence chiefly
of He+ and O+ ions during the daytime and
Ariel I carried a gridded spherical Lang- He+ and H+ ions at night. An early result
muir probe biased such that the measure- (40) obtained by simply dividing the data
ments referred only to the positive ions. The into those obtained with (a) the satellite in
probe was swept in potential, the voltage sunlight representing daytime conditions and
range, sweep rate and telemetry data rate (b) the satellite in darkness representing
being such that Druyvesteyn analysis of the night-time conditions, revealed that the tran-
current-voltage curve would yield ion energy sition altitude from predominantly 0+ ions to
spectra capable of resolving the concentra- predominantly He+ ions occurred around 950
tions of hydrogen, helium and oxygen ions km. during the day, and the transition from
and yielding data on ion temperatures. The He+ to H+ ions occurred at about 1200 km. at
first and second derivatives of the current- night. These results applied to a fairly
voltage relation were obtained by onboard small sample of data taken at low latitudes
instrumentation, and these together with the over the American continent. Further re-
sults obtained when the orbit had precessed
sufficiently for low altitudes to occur in dark-
OUTER SPHERICAL GRID INNER SPHERICAL PRC_
ness indicated that at night the 0+ to He+
transition occurred at about 450 km. (41).
The detection of He+ ions confirmed the
thereotical predictions of Nicolet (42) and
greatly extended the earlier experimental
detection by Bourdeau et al. (43).
When sufficient data had been reduced
on a digital computer to give ion densities
\ _ ii / from the raw telemetered data of the first
< /i , b
I
'1q
*
/ derivative channel, a study was made of the
', \/ '.[ !!:i /'"
variation of transition altitudes with solar
zenith angle (40) (figure 3-31). Solar
zenith angle was used rather than local time
so as to make some allowance for seasonal
HEAD ELECIRONICS "'"_'''"_i
variations over the period investigated. The
/ transition altitudes were obtained from the
[
measured ion compositions at some other alti-
tude by extrapolation using the hydrostatic
equation and a sinusoidal variation of ex-
---k_-'_ _-,_nar_fnr_ with time. the maxima
FIGURE 3--30. Sectional view of mass spectrometer
probe. and minima being obtained from the COSPAR
International Reference Atmosphere correct-
ed for change in solar activity. The results
probe voltage were telemetered back to the were grouped into two latitude bands cen-
ground. A cross sectional diagram of the tered on 40°N and on the equator, the former
probe is shown in figure 3-30. The details being 10 ° wide, the latter 20 ° wide ; longitude
of construction and operation of the probe was limited to about 75°W ± 20 ° by using
are described elsewhere. (17, 38 and 39) data from only two recording stations. The

43
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

16oo
E
.2£
v

_5
Z

O 1200
O
I.U

1000
O

r_

i-

,(

= , , , ,,, , , , , , ,

SOLAR ZENITH ANGLE (degrees)

OXYGEN - HELIUM TRANSITION I O 35 ° o SN-.o,-45


O10 "-_,-10 o
° N
N

j A35 o N.._45 o N
HELIUM HYDROGEN TRANSITION
t a 10 ° S ..._ 10 ° N
FIGURE 3-31. Variation of ion transition altitude with solar zenith angle.

results showed a twofold change in transition In an attempt to isolate the other factors
altitude for O+ and He+ during the day, the controlling the ion composition, a synoptic
maximum altitude occurring at zenith angles study (44) was made for two periods, one
corresponding to about 1700h. As expected when the orbit was such that apogee occurred
from the earlier work the He+-H+ transition over the equator, with local time varying from
was only observed for zenith angles approxi- 930 at the north point to 2130 at the south
mately corresponding to the period midnight point, and the other when there was a varia-
to 0600h. During the rest of the day the tion from perigee at the south point at 1000h.
hydrogen concentration was too small below to apogee at the north point at 2200h. In
apogee to be observed. The asymmetry each case the data from a number of passes
about noon, and the fact that there was some spread over a period of 4 to 5 days were used
difference in the maximum transition altitude to obtain ion composition contours uncor-
for the different latitude regions, showed that rected for change in local time and altitude.
the effect is not solely controlled by the solar Both periods showed marked geomagnetic
zenith angle. control in the N. hemisphere, and the latter

44
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

FIGURE 3-32. Smoothed ion composition contours days 151-155, 1962 (% O+ in O+ and He+ mixture).

period contained more results for the south- ure electron concentration which caused a
ern hemisphere where similar geomagnetic loss of data at voltages corresponding to the
control appeared to be occurring. Over occurrence of H+ and He+ peaks. As a re-
South America a rather confused situation sult, the only temperature results analysed
appeared, and it is not possible to be precise in any detail (45) were those obtained from
in assigning the contours. However, it ap- O+ ions for ion density greater than about
pears that a peak or possibly a ridge in the 105 cm -_. These data came from altitudes
percent O+ occurred at about 75°W 15°S below 600 km. and from local times within
of fairly limited geographic extent. (figure two hours of noon for the period of operation
3-32) of the second derivative channel. The vari-
The most striking feature in the northern ation of ion temperature with latitude for the
hemisphere for the second period was the local time period 1000h to 1200h in the longi-
increase in percent O+ with latitude in spite tude range 50°W to 150°W over a period of
of the fact that the altitude was also increas- about 20 days was investigated. It was
ing. A similar increase in percent 0+ occur- found that in spite of a large scatter the re-
red in the southern hemisphere, but this must sults showed a marked trend of increasing
be due in part at least to the decrease in temperature with latitude. At low latitudes
altitude. The percent 0+ increase in northern the mean ion temperature was close to the
latitudes strongly suggests a rising ion tem- gas teinperaturc calculated by Harris and
perature with latitude, an effect also sup- Priester (46), that is about 800°K; whereas
ported by the ion temperature measurements, at latitudes of about 40 ° the mean ion tem-
but the possibility of a change in the neutral perature was about 1600°K (figure 3-33).
gas composition cannot be excluded. The availability of real-time data only has
The study of ion temperatures from the restricted the analysis of the mass spectrom-
width of the second derivative of the probe eter data to broad general features. Never-
curve was hampered by interference from the theless work is continuing on the computer
dielectric constant experiment probe to meas- analysis of variations of ion composition with

45
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

latitude and altitude using all the useful data.


APPROX. ALTITUDE OF MEASUREMENT (kin)

410 400 400 450 500 550 600 Some allowance for longitude variation is
made by working in geomagnetic co-ordi-
2800J-- LOCAL TIME 10 hrs - 12hrs nates. In an initial analysis, compensation
NEUTRAL GAS TEMPERATURES I
I EPOCH DAYS 117 - 140, 1962 TEMPERATURES
(WILLMORE)(HARRIS
& PRIESTER) 1{ for the altitude variation has been made by
240C
dividing the data into two height ranges and
200(} correcting the percent 0+ to two mean levels
(600 km and 1000 km) using the hydrostatic
equation and the neutral gas temperature.
_- 1200 The feature of increase in percent O+ with
latitude is again apparent from this increased
8O(
quantity of data, and a detailed study of the
I diurnal variation of percent O+ at a given
400

altitude has been made for a range of lati-


I I I_. _ I I I
-50 -40 - 30 -20 -10 0 I0 20 30 40 tudes. Data for the northern hemisphere
GEOGRAPHIC LATITUDE (degrees) corrected to 100 km shows for all latitudes
FIGURE 3--83. Ariel I oxygen ion temperature as a a minimum O+ at 0500h and a maximum at
function of geographic latitude. 1500h. However the maximum in the south-

1200 ° \ "J " • l" • _ o" I

I e.eo° -.I •
"
*1 ellel el • • •
" _ |

1100-

I I
• . l.ss3l",,:l
. .'101] _
.
l
,.. .i** .2 •
"I
" .
s ..J::.._n-'8
s I:; .! ;\.
I "S.'_"-' _
I i• • ".
1000. • • .-.l.:- l :_: .s • •
• _.: :: • | ,_., !,
, .. . ::! • ;; :'_J , -'. , •
• , - iJ ol _ 8 •
900- • •

...-i "i .i\:
• •
.
OBO

• .; _'-:'xj •
r--i

800-

C-
o
,7, 700
"r

600.

5OO
• ". ":: :i

40O I i----_L |____ 1 i


0 I0 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 I0C

FIGURE 3-34. Theoretical variations under conditions of diffusive equilibrium.

46
UNITED KINGD OM EXPERIMENTS

ern hemisphere is not so well delineated as showed strong geomagnetic control of this
that in the northern because of lack of data parameter. Both the synoptic variation of
after about 1630h. Part of the explanation ion composition and direct ion temperature
of these differences may be attributed to the measurements indicate a marked increase in
fact that the data applied to the period be- ion temperature with latitude.
tween the vernal equinox and the summer The partial pressures of O+ and He+ are
solstice in the northern hemisphere. not in hydrostatic equilibrium in the after-
A further phenomenon of significance is noon but appear to be seriously disturbed by
revealed by a plot of values of % O+ obtained a downward flux of O+ and an upward flux of
over the period from day 117 to day 181 be- He+.
tween the hours 1200 and 1700 L.S.T. and
latitudes 10°-40 ° N. The full line in figure MEASUREMENTS OF THE SPATIAL ELEC-
3-34 shows the theoretical variation to be TRON DENSITY DISTRIBUTION BY MEANS
OF AN R. F. ELECTRON DENSITY PROBE
expected under conditions of diffusive equilib-
rium (taking T+ = 2000 K g (constant) = Project Scientist
750 Km/sec and 50%0+ at 950 Kin). The
Professor J. Sayers, University of Birming-
large scatter of the points is an indication of ham
the variability of the composition from day
to day but the trend of the %0+ to greatly Data Analysis
exceed the diffusive separation ratio is also
Miss P. Rothwell, University of Birmingham
clear. It seems, therefore, that while total
Miss B. T. Loftus, University of Birmingham
ion pressure is given by the hydrostatic equa-
tion the partial pressures of the individual Project Engineer
components at this time are not in hydro-
static equilibrium. A high altitude source Mr. d. H. Wager, University of Birmingham
of O+ leading to a downward flux of about
107 cm -2 sec -1 at 950 Km is indicated, inter- The Experiment
diffusion velocity of the O+ and He+ streams The ambient electron density along the
being around 0.1 Km sec -1 at this altitude. path of the satellite was determined by
The occurrence of this effect in the afternoon measuring the electric permittivity of the
is presumably due to the great increase in medium using a radio-frequency probing
relative concentration of neutral oxygen at signal of 10 Mc/sec and an electrode system
great heights at this time. which produced only slight radiation at this
The results on ion composition and tem- frequency. The electrodes consisted of a
perature from Ariel I may be summarized as pair of flat circular grids of fairly high trans-
follows. Measurements have shown that in parency-approximately 80%. The diam-
the altitude range from 400 to 1200 km for eter of the grids was 4 inches and they were
latitudes from 54°N to 54°S there are three supported 3 inches apart on the ends of two
predominant ions, oxygen, helium and hydro- short tubes containing inner co-axial rods
gen. The presence of He+ ions had been pre- connected to the grids. These tubes were
dicted as a theoretical possibility and some mounted on a small junction box which, in
earlier measurements of ion mass spectra turn, was fixed on the end efa boom approxi-
were in general agreement with the predic- mately 3 feet in length.
tion. The Ariel I results confirmed the broad The permittivity was measured in terms of
picture and greatly extended knowledge of the current flowing between the two elec-
the dependence of the ionic composition on trodes in response to a constant applied signal
latitude, longitude, altitude and local solar of 3 volts rms. This signal was provided by
time. The study of diurnal variations a 10 Me/see crystal controlled oscillator, the
showed that the O to He transition altitude amplitude being electronically stabilized at
varied by a factor of two and synoptic studies the above value.

47
ARIEL h THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

The electric permittivity of a medium con- the effect of the applied negative potential
taining free electrons in the presence of a is to displace the plasma electrons from the
magnetic field and subject to collisions be- immediate vicinity of the electrode. The
tween the electrons and a neutral gas has positive ions are accelerated towards the
been derived by Appleton (47). The general electrode in this region: but, because of their
Appleton expression for the permittivity is inertia, they move comparatively slowly and
complex, involving terms arising from the form a substantial positive space charge
electron collision frequency in addition to which has a screening effect on the applied
non-isotropic terms depending on the mag- probe potential. At a certain distance,
netic field. If, however, the probing fre- which is calculable when the geometry and
quency is chosen so as to be high compared other factors are known, the screening is
with the electron collision frequency and also complete. The applied probe potential does
high compared with the gyro-frequency, the not penetrate beyond this point which is, in
Appleton expression reduces approximately fact, never quite sharp : the diffuseness of the
to the following simple form : boundary being determined by the temper-
ature conditions in the plasma. In the geom-
etry which was adopted for the rf electron
probe, the application of a few volts negative
where
potential to the electrodes with respect tc
go is the permittivity of free space, space potential was sufficient to establish ar
co is the probing frequency, and ion sheath which excluded all electrons fro_
the space between the grids and from th_
N,e,m (in CGS units) are the electron fringe area around the grids in which the rJ
density, charge and mass re-
spectively. probing field was appreciable. Under thes_
conditions the effective permittivity wa_,
The permittivity of the medium determines equal to that of free space. The smal
the impedance presented by the disc elec- changes in permittivity produced by th,
trodes to the 10 Mc/sec signal and in the ab-
plasma electrons were thus measured by
sence of electron collisions this impedance is circuit which subtracted the value of the r
purely reactive. current between the grids when the latte
The r. f. current between the electrodes con-
were at space potential from the current witl
sists of two parts : the electrodes at some suitably large negativ
1. The constant vacuum displacement potential.
current ;
This presented one remaining problem i:
2. The electron current, which is pro- that space potential relative to the vehicl
portional to the electron density. was not known. Space potential could, how
This second component was selected elec- ever, be located and the ability to do so dE
tronically and amplified to give a measure of pended on the fact that if the potential on th
the electron density. Before considering
grid electrodes was made more positive tha:
how this was carried out, it is necessary to
the plasma space potential, electrons we_
discuss the effects of space charge sheaths on
accelerated in passing close to or between t_
the electrodes.
grids, and provided they did not lose an al
preciable fraction of their added energy i
Space Charge Sheaths and Electron Depletion
collisions with the gas--a few tens of co
In a classic paper on plasma probes Lang- lisions are admissible--the average popub
muir and Mort-Smith (48) showed that when tion density of electrons in the vicinity of t_
a probing electrode in an ionized gas has a grids would be less than in the undisturbe
potential which is more negative than the plasma. A maximum electron density b,
local plasma potential, the resulting current tween grids thus occurred at space potenti_
to the electrode is carried by positive ions and and this was representative of the tr_

48
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

plasma population density. The determina- moved by a balancing current of opposite


tion of the electron density when the grids phase which is adjusted by the variable con-
were at space potential was accordingly car- denser C. The variable resistance R1 pro-
ried out by applying a dc sweep voltage to vides a small phase adjustment to achieve a
the measuring head relative to the satellite true null balance. The voltage developed
hull and recording the maximum response in across the viewing resistance Ro is thus, at
the electron signal. space potential, proportional to the electron
density and the constant of proportionality
Electronic Circuit Functions is directly calculable from the circuit con-
stants. A sawtooth waveform, which pro-
Figure 3-35 is a schematic diagram of the
vides the scan for space potential, is super-
electronic functions of the equipment. The
imposed on the measuring head from the dc
sweep generator.
ELECTRODES
A crystal controlled local oscillator enables
the electron data signals to be converted to a
frequency of 20 Kc/sec before amplification.
MEASURING The phase of the electron data signals is com-
HEAD pared with a reference signal obtained
directly from the 10 Mc/sec oscillator in order
to establish that the data signals are in the
correct phase for free electrons between the
grids.

Data Recovery
Data Stored on Magnetic Tape. From the
OSCILLATOR
10 MC/S
GENERATOR
D.C. SWEE9 L
point of view of this experiment, a vital part
of the data handling system which NASA
T
provided on board the satellite was a mag-
netic tape recorder. This was capable of
storing data from a number of experiments
REFERENCE LOCAL DATA SIGNAL for one complete orbit of the satellite and a
SIGNAL OSCILLATOR I.F. AMPLIFIER &

I.F. AMPL(FIER _ 2ND ELECTRON


DETECTOR ground command link enabled the stored
data to be transmitted by rapid playback

'I I when the satellite was over a suitable receiv-


ing station. By this means the electron den-
sity was measured at one minute intervals
i ' PHASE
COMPARATOR I throughout almost every orbit of the satellite
from the time of launch until 16 July. Be-
fore the data were presented to the tape
recorder the peak on the electron signal cor-
DATA OUTPUT DATA OUTPUT

(PHASE) ELECTRON DENSITY responding to space potential was determined


by a_ additional electronic unit and stored
:FIGURE 3--35. Schematic diagram of the electronic
for a short time in readiness for recording.
circuit for electron density measurement.
In this way the need for further computing
on the recovered data from the tape was
current between the grids in response to the eliminated. The data from 27 April until
10 Mc/sec signal flows through the viewing 8 July, 1962, were printed by automatic
resistance Ro. The part of this current cor- means and made available in World Data
responding to the capacitative displacement Centers.
current in the absence of ionization is re- Table 3-1 is a reproduction of a page from

49
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

TABLE 3-1.

Electron Density Data Points

BIRMINGHAM 99995162117 1 10102832

Geographic
Location
Day Time sec. Long. Lat. Alt. Time, Electron
U.T. Km. local density

117. 31699.016 -54.2 36.3 1023. 18825.579 0.756E 04 --6.1


117. 31760.500 -51.2 38.6 1002. 19597.992 0.101E 05 -6.1
117. 31821.875 -48.1 40.8 979. 20424.262 0.126E 05 -6.1
117. 31883.078 -44.6 42.9 956. 21309.510 0.126E 05 -6.1
117. 31944.641 -40.9 45.0 932. 22268.143 0.202E 05 -6.1
117. 32005.%4 -36.8 46.8 908. 23297.217 0.202E 05 -6.1 N. Atlantic
117. 32067.172 -32.5 48.6 883. 24401.903 0.227E 05 -6.1
117. 32128.750 -27.8 50.1 858. 25595.468 0.227E 05 -6.1
117. 32190.141 --22.7 51.4 832. 26866.979 0.252E 05 -6.1
117. 32251.281 -17.4 52.5 806. 28210.219 0.302E 05 -6.1
117. 32312.750 -11.7 53.3 78O. 29629.013 0.302E 05 -6.1 S.W. Ireland
117. 32374.281 -5.9 53.8 754. 31103.439 0.378E 05 -6.2
117. 32435.437 0.1 54.0 728. 32603.550 0.479E 05 -6.1 York, England
117. 32497.000 6.2 53.8 702. 34125.859 0.554E 05 -6.1
117. 32558.328 12.2 53.3 676. 35630.818 0.630E C5 -6.1 Berlin
117. 32619.516 18.1 52.5 651. 37098.543 0.731E 05 -6.1
117. 32681.019 23.8 51.4 626. 38523.049 0.882E 05 -6.1
117. 32742.484 29.2 50.0 602. 39875.631 0.983E 05 -6.2 Kivev
117. 32803.672 34.2 48.3 579. 41149.039 0.116E 06 -6.1
117. 32865.219 39.0 46.4 556. 42350.765 0.134E 06 -6.1 Rostov
117. 32926.594 43.4 44.2 535. 43470.251 0.164E 06 -6.1
117. 32987.781 47.5 41.9 514. 44511.054 0.189E 06 -6.1 Caspian Sea
117. 33049.156 51.3 39.4 495. 45484.739 0.214E 06 -_.0
117. 33110.750 54.8 36.7 477. 46397.300 0.251E 06 -6.1
117. 33171.891 58.1 33.9 461. 47245.491 0.344E 06 -6.0
117. 33233.359 61.2 31.0 446. 48047.198 0.456E 06 -6.1
117. 33294.859 64.1 28.1 432. 48804.422 0.604E 06 --6.1
117. 333".6.234 66.8 25.0 421. 49521.333 0.790E 06 -6.1 Pakistan
ll7. 33417.422 69.4 21.9 411. 50203.099 0.809E 06 -6.1
117. 33479.016 71.9 18.7 403. 50861.509 0.790E 06 --6.0 Bombay
117. 33540.391 74.2 15.4 397. 51494.293 0.800E 06 -6.1
117. 33601.578 76.5 12.2 393. 52106.484 0.800E 06 --6.1 S. India
117. 33663.141 78.8 8.8 390. 52708.063 0.790E 06 -6.1
117. 33724.547 81.0 5.5 390. 53297.763 0.809E 06 -6.1 Ceylon
117. 33785.734 83.2 2.2 392. 53878.756 0.800E 06 -6.1
117. 33847.203 85.3 --1.1 396. 54459.410 0.800E 06 -6.1
117. 33908.687 87.5 -4.5 402. 55040.790 0.809E 06 -6.0
117. 33970.062 89.7 --7.8 409. 55625.272 0.800E 06 -6.1
117. 34031.266 91.9 --11.0 419. 56215.808 0.716E 06 -6.1
117. 34092.844 94.1 --14.3 431. 56821.515 0.511E 06 -6.1 Indian Ocean
117. 34154.172 96.5 --17.5 444. 57440.107 0.409E 06 -6.1
117. 34215.359 98.9 --20.7 459. 58076.639 0.288E 06 -6.0
117. 34276.844 101.4 --23.8 475. 58740.159 0.214E 06 -6.1
117. 34338.328 104.0 --26.8 493. 59432.305 0.181E 06 -6.1
117. 34399.516 106.8 --29.8 512. 60154.491 0.139E 06 --6.1

5O
UNITED KINGD OM EXPERIMENTS

one of the five volumes of these data and 2. From a study of the scintillation in
represents data from about half of one orbit radio reception of satellite signals by
over the geographical locations indicated on Singleton and Lynch (52).
the right-hand margin: Each line represents 3. From whistler observations by
one data point. There were some 50,000 Crouchley and Duff (53).
observations in all. 4. From studies of ionograms from the
Direct Transmission Data. In addition to satellite Alouette I by King et al (54).
the tape recorder data system, a direct data A further unusual feature of the F2 region
link was also used. This provided access to was discovered by Appleton (55). This is
the complete electron signal throughout each the Appleton equatorial anomaly and in its
de scan for space potential, so that the cor- simplest form can be recognized as a depres-
rect operation of the experiment might be sion of the Fz ionization maximum over the
verified and the peak electron signal at space magnetic equator accompanied by peak densi-
potential observed on the recovered data. ties on each side of the equator. The effect
The amount of data available by direct trans- is very marked during the day and usually is
mission was much more limited than that by difficult to observe or is absent during the
the tape recorder, since direct data could latter half of the night. The association with
only be acquired while the satellite was within the magnetic equator and, in some cases,
telemetry range of a tracking station. symmetry about the magnetic equator indi-
cares close geomagnetic control of the anom-
Some Observational Results and "their Interpretation aly.
It has long been recognized that the F_ Mitra (56) sought to explain the Appleton
region above its maximum density shows a anomaly in terms of ionization formed at high
decay of ionization with increasing altitude levels in the Fz region over the magnetic
which does not resemble a Chapman profile. equator diffusing north and south along field
For example, Storey (49) showed that obser- lines leading to enhancement of ionization at
vations on the propagation of whistler at- lower levels on either side of the equator.
mospherics required for their interpretation Martyn (57) was the first to appreciate the
a much higher ionization density above the significance of vertical movements in deter-
F_ layer than would be expected for a simple mining the morphology of the F2 region and
Chapman layer. Storey recognized the sig- in particular of the Appleton anomaly. The
nificance of the observation that there was a idea was further developed by Lyon and
positive correlation between the occurrence Thomas (58) who observed that the after-
of whistlers and magnetic storms and con- noon enhancement of the anomaly crests
eluded that there must exist above the F_ north and south of the magnetic equator oc-
layer some source of ionization (additional curs first on the side nearest to the _eographic
to ultraviolet radiation) associated with mag- equator and the greater height of the Fe max-
netic effects. A further significant step in imum also occurs on the side nearest to the
the study of the upper ionosphere by consid- geographic equator. It is suugested that
erations based on radio wave propagation these two observations support the theory
was made by Obayachi (50). In his paper that the anomaly results from diffusion of
he suggested that high frequency radio prop- ionizatien along lines of magnetic force from
agation might take place in the outer ion- thema_netic equator. Goldbergand Schmer-
osphere along ducts formed by field aligned ling (59) have also advanced the theory of
ionization strata. Convincing experimental diffusion to explain the magnetic anomaly,
evidence for the existence of field aligned but Risbeth et al (60) conclude that diffusion
patches of ionization extending to hundreds processes alone will not account for the ob-
of kilometers was soon found as follows : served magnitude of the effect and that bulk
1. From radar soundings by Matthew vertical movements must be an important
and Dearden (51). mechanism as was pointed out by Martyn

51
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

-.}-60 °

3O

3O

_6o°
180 ° -90 0 +90 +180 °

2.25-3.00 1.75-2.00 1.25-1.50 0.25-1.00 104

FIGURE 3-36. World contour map of the electron density at an altitude in the region of 1100 km near local
midnight in the period 27 April to 6 May 1962 (In the unhatched region at the bottom of the map the
density probably lies between 0.75 and 1.50 (x 10 _) but there are very few data).

(57) many years earlier. Mariani (61) has region of 1100 km for conditions near local
sought to account for the effect by including midnight in the period 27 April to 6 May
a consideration of geomagnetic control in 1962. This diagram shows contour lines of
terms of the pitch angles of photo-electrons equal electron density on a wDrld map. These
produced in F_. results show the existence of two bands of
The use of satellites to carry direct measur- enhanced electron density at mid-latitudes
ing instruments to explore the upper iono- north and south of the equator. An impor-
sphere and to carry radio propagation experi- tant feature of these bands is that they do
mental equipment such as the topside sounder not follow lines of equal geographic latitude_
of Alouette opened a new chapter in the in- but the two bands show corresponding de
vestigations of the Fs region and above. partures from the parallels of longitude ir
The results now available from the Ariel such a way that their distance apart in lati.
satellite indicate the existence of regions of tude is approximately constant. Further
enhanced ionization, in the topside iono- more, a line drawn midway between the maxi
sphere, of a much more extensive and system- ma of the two bands coincides closely with th(
atic character than has been previously sup- magnetic equator. The bands of electro_
posed. The significance of the new results density enhancement are, therefore, bands o:
can be best appreciated by considering the approximately constant magnetic latitu&
distribution of electron density in sections of suggesting that the geomagnetic field play,,
constant altitude and by confining our atten- an important role in the mechanism of pro
tion to periods near midday or near midnight duction of these enhancements. The bandt
in order to avoid the added complexity of on figure 3-36 are, in fact, consistent witl
dawn or sunset conditions. Figure 3-36 il- enhancement of ionization density on a mag
lustrates such a section at an altitude in the netic shell which crosses the magnetic equa

52
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

torial planeat an altitude of 1.8 earth radii varies with latitude and longitude so that its
from the centerof the dipoleapproximation peak follows a particular magnetic shell.
to the earth'sfield. This altitudeat the mag- The L value of this shell usually lies in the
neticequatoris calledthe L value of the mag- range 1.6 to 1.9.
netic shell following the notation of McIlwain A further important feature of the en-
(62). hancement on the above magnetic shell is the
Constant altitude sections near perigee suppression of the effect in the longitude
(400 to 500 km altitude) at approximately range 60°W to 65°E of the northern hemi-
local midnight have also shown correspond- sphere and a sharp reduction of the intensity
ing bands of enhancement of electron density. of ionization east of the South Atlantic anom-
The centers of these bands are observed at aly. The result of this is that over the
higher latitudes north and south than in the Atlantic ocean both north and south of the
case of the apogee section, showing that the equator regular enhancement on the 1.8 mag-
enhancement exists in a layer whose altitude netic shell is not marked. There are, how-

(A) SJULY, (B) 8JULY, (C) 9J ULY,

11.23-I I .49 18.10-18.37 05.49-06.14


88° W- 154° W 171° W-115 ° W

16

.15

I
-- I
12
i
u i

i
O

v 1.2 ',
>-
i 1.20
I
i
u.J ,,
r'h 1.4
.03
Z '| 1.3
O

U
l,,U
__I

--/ i •
',0
i • £

l l l: I
:
I I I
i
B
!

Ii I I I
I,i 1
!

I I I I
N 20 0 20 S N 40 20 0 20S N20 0 20 40S
GEOGRAPHIC LATITUDE

FIGURE 3-37. Approximately horizontal profiles of electron density at an altitude in the region of 400 km
(perigee) and near midnight local time.

5S
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

ever, fairly intense day-to-day fluctuations shell. In this diagram the latitudes of the
and these are greatest in the region of the maxima of the enhanced regions as inter-
South Atlantic. sected at an altitude of approximately 1100
The enhancement described above is the km (apogee) during the day is shown as a
main regular feature of the topside iono- function of longitude. Contour lines of the
sphere at low- and mid-latitudes near mid- intersections of the L shells 1.22, 1.25 and
night in the period of these observations. 1.27 at the same altitude are indicated on the
Examination of individual passes reveals diagram, together with the magnetic dip
additional structure in the form of en- equator. It will be noted that enhancement
hancement on other magnetic shells. Dur- is fairly clearly defined on an L shell between
ing the day these additional enhanced regions 1.22 and 1.27 and this, of course, results in
become relatively more pronounced and this symmetry about the magnetic equator. Fig-
is also the case during the night at lower alti- ure 3-39 shows the shape of the various
tudes than those of figure 3-36. Examples magnetic shells in which enhancement of ioni-
of the additional enhanced regions in lower L zation has been found. The asymmetry be-
shells are given in the results from a few sec- tween the western and eastern sections is due
tions of the Ariel orbits shown in figure 3-37. to the fact that the first-order approximation
These are for passes near perigee and near to the actual geomagnetic field is a magnetic
local midnight for three different longitudes. dipole whose center is displaced from the
The L values, defining the magnetic shells in geographic center in the direction of India.
which the peaks are located, are noted in the The fact of magnetic shell alinement of the
diagram. By examination of a large number enhanced regions is strong evidence that the
of such records it has been found that in ad- enhancement is due to additional ionization
dition to the L=l.8 shell, enhancement of by energetic particles. The occurrence of
electron density generally occurs on two low- this ionization preferentially in particular
er magnetic shells, namely, L--1.09±0.05 and shells must be due to irregularities in the
L=1.25±0.05. Referring again to figure 3- pattern and intensity of the geomagnetic
37 the evidence for the magnetic field aline- field. Although the detailed mechanism un-
ment of the enhanced regions will be clear derlying this correlation with particular mag-
from the way in which the latitude and sep- netic shells and not with others is not under-
aration of the peaks varies with longitude so stood, the overall pattern is fairly consistent.
as to follow constant L values. This is shown For example, the suppression of the enhance-
in more detail in figure 3-38 for the L--1.25 ment on the L=l.8 shell east of the Atlantic
with a gradual recovery in the eastern hemi-
sphere suggests that trapped electrons whicln
drift eastwards are an important source of

20oNLfSL125

this enhancement. If these electrons are lost
out of the 1.8 shell over the South Atlantic
anomaly only weak enhancement would bE
MAG.
expected over an extended eastern range o_
0 EQ.

iOOS L=1.22 "


longitude until the shell becomes replenished
L=1.27 _ The lowest shell at L=I.0 to 1.14 appear,
to be more complex than the other two and i_
possibly due to some process quite differen
iBOoW |20o 60° 0
LONGITUOE
60 ° 120a I80°E
from those responsible for the higher shells
In view of the evidence that the shell en
FICURE 3-38. World map of the peaks of the en- hancements in the topside ionosphere are du,
hanced regions encountered at an altitude of ap-
to energetic particle ionization, it is of par
proximately 1100 km during the day with con-
tour lines of the L values at the same altitude.
ticular interest to consider the direct obser
0, 8 July: [2], 9 July: A, 10 July, 1962. vational evidence for the existence of sucl

54
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

4O

/ 30
N 2O

4O

2O

20 ....

10

4O

FIGURE 3-39. Representation to scale of the three regions of enhancement• The shading represents the alti-
tude range over which electron density has been obtained by Ariel.

particles. It has been reported by Hess (63) and near L=2. We must therefore regard
that as a result of the 'Starfish' high-altitude enhancement of ionization in a belt aligned
nuclear explosion on 9 July, 1962, energetic in the magnetic shell L=1.25 as a natural
electrons appeared in the magnetic shell L: structure, anti it is evident that some prefer-
1._5. However, _he results now presented e ntial mechanism exists for the accumulation
indicate that some enhancement of ionization of ionizing particles in this shell. The ioni-
was present in the 1.25 shell before the Star- zation by such particles must be assumed to
fish event. Paulikas and Freden (64) have take place at altitudes not far from the Fe
also recorded energetic particles from Star- layer maximum, and enhancement in the
fish in L shells near 1.2 and 2, but they have magnetic shell in depth is the result of np-
pointed out that pre-Starfish observations by ward diffusion of the ionization substantially
Schrader et al (65) with the satellite OSO I within the magnetic shell in which it is pro-
also recorded energetic particles near L:1.2 duced.

55
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

IONIZATION PRODUCED BY A HIGH ALTI- about six times the normal level. The point
TUDE NUCLEAR EXPLOSION magnetically conjugate to the site of the ex-
The Starfish high-altitude nuclear explo- plosion is at approximately 15°S, 170°W,
sion over Johnston Island (latitude 16°N, and the orbit of Ariel passed close to this
longitude 169°W) which took place at 0900 point, being slightly to the west, approxi-
hours U. T. on 9 July, 1962, produced very mately five hours after the 'Starfish' event.
intense and short-lived ionization both locally The record of the electron density for this
and at the magnetic conjugate point to the pass is shown in figure 3-41 with the passes
site of the explosion. This ionization density
amounted to an order of magnitude increase 10JULY1962
1.0
over the normal level, but on the next pass of 0.5 f ,..,,.,_-_.._,_._._.....,..,,,_'_"_o._.._, -.o--'_,_

the satellite over each of the two regions on


the following day the ionization had decayed

il l"
9 JUI_Y 1962

to practically the level of the day before the


explosion. Figure 3-40 shows the electron
S_ARFISH
IONIZATION
.%

10JULY1962

4j
B
0.5 "_
z

0 I _ 3
I I
9JULY1962
2

2.5 __ STARFISH
£
2.0
3.0 I
IONIZATION

,
.%
7 JULY1962
1.5

0,_-- , , ,

u
°I A -w -40 -20 0
LATITUDE
+ 20 + 40

FIGURE 3--41. Comparison of the ionization density


at a point magnetically conjugate to the site of
8 JUkyI962 the explosion with the ionization at the same
place 2 days earlier and on the day following the
event.

-40 -20 0 ÷ 20 + 40
of the two adjacent days for comparison.
LATITUOE The enhancements shown in figures 3-40 and
FmuaE 3-40. Comparison of the ionization density
3-41 are on approximately the same longi-
recorded over Johnston Island a few hours after tude and at L values of 1.18 and 1.10. Fur-
the explosion with the ionization density on the ther clouds of ionization were encountered
previous and following days. a few hours after the explosion near southern
apex of the satellite orbit, again on a similar
density record from the satellite on the first longitude a few degrees to the east and at an
occasion of a pass just west of Johnston Is- L value of 6.0. It thus appears that the
land, which occurred about 6x/_ hours after explosion produced an ionization cloud ex-
the Starfish event. For comparison the cor- tending over some thousands of kilometers in
responding passes are shown on the preceding altitude, from 25°N to at least 54°S latitude,
day and on the following day. The width of but very much flattened in longitude. Thi,,
this cloud of ionization was a few thousand is not unlike the form which it might b_
kilometers along the path of the satellite and anticipated the actual fireball of the explosior
the peak density was 3 x l0 s cm: :_, which is would take as it expands and then diffuse,

56
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

under the constraint of the geomagnetic field. magnetic disturbance. This correlation is il-
Further details of the Ariel data relevant to lustrated in figure 3-42, which shows the
the Starfish event have been reported by observed electron density for a series of sec-
Rothwell, Wager and Sayers (66). tions of southern apex passes of the satellite.
These passes were chosen from the data for
IONIZATION BY CORPUSCULAR RADIA- 26, 27, and 28 May, 1962, because on these
TION AT HIGH MAGNETIC LATITUDES
three days the Kp index showed a rapid rise
The inclination of the orbit of Ariel to the from 1 on the 26th to 2 + on the 27th and this
equator is 54 °, but because of the asymme- was followed by a rapid decrease to the
tries of the geomagnetic field the satellite former value on 28 May.
intersects sections of magnetic shells of high It will be noted on figure 3-42 that on 26
L value south of Australia and over northern May and 28 May the electron density was
Canada. In these regions large variations of fairly constant for all the southern apex sec-
ionization density have been recorded and tions of the orbit, but on 27 May there was a
there is a close correlation between these two-fold rise in electron density. While it is
variations and changes in the Kp index of possible to find many individual examples

10.00-12.00 U.T. 08.00-10.00 U.T. 06.00-08.00 U.T. 03.00-05.00 U.T.

1962 x A O X A O x A O x A O
MAY 26 27 28 26 27 28 26 27 28 26 27 28

KP 1- 2+ 2 - 1 - 2+ 1- 1 - 2-1 1- 1 - 3 1

32

..-.,,
7 24--

X
121
Z
o -
u
I--
/
X

E
_..1
ua 8 --

0
20°W
I I
0
I
20 °E 20°E
I
40°E 60°E
I
I I
20°l ::
I
40 °w 60 °E
I L
I
80 ° 1:: 80°E
I
100°E
t I
12001:
t
140°E

LONGITUDE

FIGURE 3-42. Individual profiles of electron density near southern apex, midday, showing the correlation
between the electron density recorded and the Kp index.

57
ARIEL h THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

12 --

U
8 --
0
O
0
v

>-
0 0
O
x c_O0 oo o
ud
r_ 0 x 0
x x O0 0 0 O0 0
Z XxXXxx
x
0 O °
XXOX Xx XxO 0
4 --
_x x x x 0
K 0
x x 0 x xx x x x 0
_J xXx x
x x Xo X x X x _tx_XxX x x
xx Xx
xxx x x_
x x xx x x x_
x o_ oo xxx
x x
x
C,

-- x x 0 x x 0
x _x O0 x x x
x x x Xx 0
x x
_xx ,4 x ;_ x
xx xJ'_O_xO x x
Xxx × x )_ x Xx xXXXxXXXX x x_xxx x ×
XxX xxx xXX
x x K _xxxxx_X x _xxxX xx x xXx xxx x
0 1 I I I I 1 I
180°W 120 60 0 60 120 180 ° E

LONGITUDE

FIGURE 3-43. Collected data from a large number of records showing the correlation of ionization density at
southern apex with the K_, index figure (9-15 June, X, Very calm period, Kp < 3: O, disturbed period,
K,, > 3).

similar to the above, the correlation between pressure, but in any case these two effects will
the electron density and the Kp index is best probably be related.
investigated on a statistical basis. The col-
lected data covering a complete band round OBSERVATIONS DURING A 'SUDDEN COM
MENCEMENT"
the globe at 54°S for a period of about one
week at the end of May, 1962, are shown in One well-defined sudden commencement oc-
figure 3-43. It will be seen that there is a curred during the period 27 April to 9 July
close correlation betwecn the electron density and this took place at 4.14 hours U. T. on 27
and the Kp index and that the largest increas- May. At this time Ariel was passing near
es in electron density for high Kp index are the southern apex at 110°E longitude where
observed in high magnetic shells of L value high L value magnetic shells are encountered.
3 to 6. Observations of the electron density Conditions were, therefore, favorable for
in the high L shellregions over northern observing corpuscular ionization and the re-
Canada for magnetically quiet and magneti- sults are shown in figure 3-44, for the day of
cally disturbed periods show only a compar- the sudden commencement (27 May) and for
atively slight correlation of electron density the two previous days and one following day
with Kp index. It is not clear why the cor- for comparison. It will be observed that on
relation should be so weak in the N. hemi- 25 and 26 May very steady conditions of ioni-
sphere, but it may be associated with the zation were observed in a band encircling the
intensity of the magnetic field which will earth at 54°S and at 440 Km. altitude: the
determine the altitude of mirror points for second of these days showing a distribution
trapped radiation. Alternatively, there may of ionization practically identical with the
be a seasonal effect connected with the dis- first. Where the band intersects high L
tortion of the magnetosphere by solar wind shells (in the range L 3 to 7) south of Aus-

58
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

MAY 1962 Km

25 1- or 0

26 1-
-7 2-
u

O
0 I'_1"_'_1 I- I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I
>-
4_ L 4.27

E2
-- L3.5_ _'_,. L7.5 27 2-5
Z
2 2 L2.7/vU.T. U._
b--
_2.2 _ 7.5 4.14
..A I t i I I I I I I I I I I I i'",'C"
¢ I I I
tl3

4-

28 1-2
2--

I t i I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I
180 ° V' 120 ° 60 ° 0 60 ° 120 ° 180 ° t:

LONGITUDE

FIGURE 3--44. The electron density near southern apex about 2 hours after a sudden commencement with the
corresponding records for the 2 previous days and the day following the s.c.

tralia, the ionization is two to three times Data Analysis


higher than in the magnetically lower lati-
Mr. C. L. Henderson
tude sections of the band (L 2 to 3). The
Dr. A. P. Willmore
satellite passed through the high L region
about two hours after the sudden commence- The aspect sensor was designed and con-
ment event and recorded a two to three-fold structed at University College, London. It
increase in the local ionization density: but a has been fully described by J. H. Alexander
few orbits later when the S-apex was at low (1963) (67), and more briefly in NASA-SP-
L values no increase of ionization density was 43 (1963) (17) and by R. C. Baumann (1964)
recorded. On the next occasion (24 hours (68). Its purpose was to provide informa-
later) when the satellite scanned the high L tion on the so!_r aspect and the spin rate of
region the whole pattern was indistinguish- Ariel I, these quantities being essential to the
able from that two days preceding the S.C. interpretation of data from the radiation ex-
event. periments. Spin rate data have also proved
essential in the interpretation of electron
ASPECT HISTORY AND SPIN RATE ANALYSIS
temperature and density observed by the
Design Engineers U.C.L. boom probe (Willmore et al, 1962)
Dr. J. H. Alexander (40). The orientation of the spin axis in
Dr. P. J. Bowen space has been estimated largely from solar

59
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

aspect data, with a cross-check from observa- The time of their occurrence is related to the
tion of the wake effect on the electron densi- roll position; and the ratio of the time inter-
ties at the U.C.L. base probe (Bowen et al, val between positive and negative pulses to
1964) (41). that between positive pulses is a linear func-
tion of aspect angle.
The Sensor The data could be sampled by the telemetry
only at fixed time intervals, so the positive
Basically, the sensor eonsists of a small pulses were fed into a simple pulse rate cir-
pyramid of four silicon solar cells at the cuit covering the range 180 rpm to 20 rpm.
eenter of a hemisphere nine centimeters in This gave an indication of the behavior of the
diameter attached to the side of the satellite. satellite in the launch and de-spin stages, and
The slits through which the sun illuminates removed an uncertainty in the number of
the cells are defined by the intersection with complete rolls between successive roll posi-
the hemisphere of a cylinder 4.5 centimeters tion readings. The positive pulses also op-
in diameter, with its axis parallel to the spin erated a phase-locked sawtooth generator.
axis. The arrangement is shown in figure The constant amplitude triangular wave com-
3-45. A central meridian plane mask sub- menced immediately after the arrival of a
divides the cells and slits so that as the satel- pulse, and was sampled by the telemetry to
lite rotates the sun will strike first a cell on give the instantaneous roll position of the sun.
the right, and then one on the left of the Finally, the positive and negative pulses re-
mask. spectively turned on and off a bistable circuit,
A short positive pulse is produeed from a producing a square wave of constant ampli-
cell on the right, and a negative pulse from tude whose mean value was a linear function
one on the left. The time between successive of aspect angle. The avexage value was
positive pulses is equal to the spin period. telemetered.

SPIN
AXIS
(z)

A- SLITS

B-INTERNALMASK

C- SOLAR CELLS

/
X

ELEVATION QUADRANT

FIGURE 3-45. Aspect sensor geometry-measured interval = PQ = 2(X_M) = 2(P_M) = 0r/2 --0).

6O
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

I I I I I 1 I

\ \\

12(

/
15(

1O0 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

DAYS NUMBERED FROM JAN 1st , 1962

FIGURE 3--46. Variations of aspect angle with time.

Launch Period are shown in figure 3-46. Note that the


aspect angle in the figure and in the text from
A second aspect sensor was fitted to the
this point is the complement of the measured
third stage rocket. Data from this and the
angle and defines the displacement of the
satellite sensor gave a graphic history of the
solar vector from the spin axis.
sequence of operations involved in placing
Ariel I in orbit. From the observed sudden If the direction of the spin axis in space,
decreases in spin rate and shocks recorded by looking from the center of the satellite up
accelerometers in the rocket, it was evident through the mass spectrometer probe, is
that the sequence of erection of booms and stated in terms of spherical coordinates re-
paddles did not take place according to plan. ferred to the ecliptic plane, then the aspect
The solar paddles were not erected simul- angle is given by
taneously, and their erection took place 14 cos O__cos ft, cos (A--A,) .... (1)
minutes earlier than expected. The Bir-
mingham electron density boom was also where O=aspect angle
erected prematurely. The effect of this was ft,=celestial latitude of spin axis
to produce a steadily increasing nutation or
coning angle at a rate of about 4°/minute. Ax= celestial longitude of spin axis
This nutation angle reached a va_ue of -_^"* 2.= celestial longitude of sun
57 ° at the time of separation of the satellite
from the third stage. Fortunately, despite If the direction of the spin axis were fixed in
this series of mishaps, the spin rate in orbit space, ft. and A. would be constant, and 0
was very close to the designed rate, and the would vary in approximately sinusoidal fash-
nutation damped out within a few days. ion between the limits of/_. and 180 °-ft. with
a period of a year. This was approximately
Aspect History the case for about the first hundred days from
The variations of aspect angle with time launch.

61
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Two ambiguities in equation (1) have to time variations. A plot of the surface men-
be resolved. tioned above shows that there is a net drift in
1. The aspect sensor is inherently incapa- the direction of increasing celestial longitude
ble of distinguishing between aspect (or right ascension) of the order of 0.25
angles above and below the satellite degree/day over the period of observations.
equator, i.e. between O° and 180°--8. A preliminary examination of possible
torques, based on the treatment by E. C.
2. The signs of fix and of (h--hx) are un-
known. Semple (1964) (69), shows that the mean
magnetic dipole moment of Ariel, estimated
The ambiguities were resolved simultane-
(17) at 200 dyne dm/gauss, is sufficient to
ously by making an independent estimate of
produce a spiral precession with a period of
the direction of the spin axis from the time of
92 days and an initial half-cone angle of the
the maximum wake effect on the base electron
order of 10 degrees. This angle will increase
temperature probe, using the data shown in
as the spin rate of the satellite decreases.
Bowen et al (1964) (29) for days 117 and
The spiral will drift in the direction of in-
142. This gave a mean value for fix and A_
creasing right ascension. Torques due to
which was sufficiently accurate to eliminate
solar radiation and aerodynamic pressures
the uncertainties.
are expected to be smaller but still significant,
The direction of the spin axis, using the attributed mainly to contributions from the
assumption of a constant direction up to day solar paddles.
190, is fl,_--50 °, A,----53 °. This corresponds
to declination --30 ° and right ascension 63 ° . Spin Rate Analysis
The corresponding "theoretical" variation of
Figure 3-47 shows the variation of spin
8 is shown in figure 3-46. There is some in-
rate with time. The rate generally decreased,
dication of a precession of the spin axis about
with a superimposed wave producing periods
this mean direction, with a cone angle of the
of increasing spin. This has been observed
order of 10 degrees.
on very few spacecraft. The forces expected
The aspect data for the period after day to have significant effects on the spin rate
190, when the Starfish nuclear explosion oc- were :
curred, show some evidence of radiation dam-
age to the sensor, but also evidence of a long- • magnetic damping
term drift in the direction of the spin axis.
If the assumption of a constant direction of • aerodynamic pressure
the spin axis is relaxed, equation (1) remains • radiation pressure
valid for any instant of time, but now 0 is the
half-angle of a cone around the earth-sun Magnetic damping was minimized by the use
line, and the spin axis lies somewhere on this of non-magnetic materials as far as possible,
cone. The variation of 0 with time can be and it was estimated (17) that the half-life
transformed into a surface in the "space" of the spin rate due to this effect be one year.
coordinates of celestial latitude, celestial lon- From the curve, the half-life appears to be
gitude and time. In principle, any line 1.5 years.
drawn on this surface in the direction of in- A number of valuable papers on the effects
creasing time would define a possible varia- of various torques on satellites has been pub-
tion of the spin axis coordinates. The value lished under the editorship of S. F. Singer
of 0 defines an upper limit to the possible ab- (1964) (70). Among these, one by W. J.
solute value of celestial latitude, and when Evans gives a clear analysis of the forces due
0----90% the celestial longitude is A.-----A-----90 °. to aerodynamic and solar radiation pressure
These conditions, plus the expectation that on a plane surface. The following analysi_
the precessional motion will not be much more is based on that of Evans, with slight changes
than one degree/day allow us to estimate the in symbols for convenience.

62
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

4O I I I I I I l

%.

""..........
oo • • o °
3O
_e oo °
%
v_
L
e°oo • • • o

oooo °
OOoooO • •

Z °°eooo

20

o o

°°o oe •
• oo

I0 I I I I I I I
100 20O 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

DAYS

_'_GUR_. 3-47. Variation of spin rate with time.

Aerodynamic Effect U--relative velocity of stream

We assume that the aerodynamic contribu- crl:reflection coefficient (0 for specular


tion to the spin rate is due solely to pressure reflection, 1 for completely diffuse
reflection)
on the solar paddles, which are so tilted as to
act like a propeller. Evans develops a compli- s=V/Wo
cated formula for the total pressure or inci- Wo=most probable thermal velocity of
dent plus re-emitted normal momentum flux stream
on an elementary surface. Twzsurface temperature of paddle
He assumes the incident stream is in free
T--stream temperature
molecular flow and in Maxwellian equilib-
rium. His expression does not reduce to zero _?_angle of incidence of stream, meas-
when the incident stream is parallel to the ured from the normal to the paddle
surface.
surface, because of the thermal velocity of the
particles within the stream, and because he is By inserting values appropriate to Ariel's
considering a single surface. orbit into the formula, we find that easily
In the case of a solar paddle, which can be the most significant terms are p and 7. The
taken for simplicity as a flat plate, an inci- expression in the curly brackets is a pure
dent stream parallel to the surface would flow number, and is of the order 1.1 for purely
over both sides, and the net effect would be a diffuse and 2.0 for purely specular reflection.
zero force. Under these conditions Evans' We have assumed that the reflection is diffuse.
formula can be considerably simplified and In applying the formula to determine the
can be shown to become, with slight approxi- torque about the spin axis, we have to con-
mations, _:a^_ vh_ _,.,qrlla_ ;_ p_i_'_, _inc_ uaddles I and
III are on axes inclined at 45 ° and II and IV
at 67.5 ° to the spin axis. The pressure and
the resulting torque, which is a constant
times the pressure for a given paddle, are
2-S\:-_-/°'t
[_'T" Y/" } c°s_q ... (2) averaged for a rotation of the satellite as a
function of 8, the angle of attack, or angle
where P:pressure
between the inward stream vector and the
pzair density spin axis. In calculating this average, the

63
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

effect of shielding due to the intervention of Radiation Pressure Effect


the body of the satellite or another paddle
Evans develops a formula for a surface in
was taken into account. This amounted to
which there is no loss by conversion of radia-
about 5% of the average.
tion to electric power. It must therefore be
The variation of torque with 0 was approx- modified when applied to a surface of solar
imately symmetrical about 0=90 °. There cells. The incident radiation pressure, or
was a large retarding torque, almost constant normal momentum flux, is
for 0_<0_<60 °, then a linear change through
zero to a similar accelerating torque for
P_=S_ice°S _= Sc°s'c _?
120°_<0_<180 ° . The mean torque over a
rotation is finally averaged around an orbit. where S=solar constant,
The major effect is clearly near perigee,
where the density and stream velocity are a =1.395 x 10 _ erg cm -_ sec -_
maximum. Averaging over a third of an c=velocity of light
orbit centered on perigee is sufficient to give
the torque to two orders of magnitude. _q--angle of incident energy to the paddle
normal, as before,
For Ariel's geometry, a good approxima-
tion to the resultant acceleration effect is : For contribution by reflection and re-emis-
sion, we have
_d (spin rate)=KPp f(Op) rpm/lO0 days.
dt P+r'_-a=l
where K=5.8 x 1014
where P=reflectivity
Pp=density at perigee (gm/cc)
r 1-- transmissivity
Op----angle of attack at perigee
f(0)_-1 for 0°<_8 <_60° a=absorptivity

_+1 for 120°_<8 <_180 ° In our case r 1 can be regarded as equivalent


to loss by conversion into power, and so is not
with a linear change for 60 ° =0_< 120 °
zero. We cannot therefore eliminate = from
The long term variation of this acceleration the equations.
is shown in figure 3-48, together with that
For diffuse reflection,

( Pr ) ,l= "/aP_/c cos 7q

For specular reflection


g
(Pr)._=PZ/c cos V
For re-emission of absorped radiation
.,0I

o
J P _= "-/.a
x_ / c cos

So the total pressure is P=P_q-P_q-P_


500 600
I00 20o 300 4o0
diffuse : Pa=S/c [cos_?+ _ (P+a) cos 7]
DAYS

specular: P._=s/c[ (1-_P)cosZ_-"/_ x cos


FIGURE 3-48. Long term acceleration variations.
Due to (1) aerodynamic pressure, (2) direct According to J. H. Huth (1959) (71) th
solar radiation, and (3) magnetic damping.
maximum efficiency of silicon solar cells i
14 % in full sunlight, and loss by reflection i
due to direct solar radiation discussed in the from 10 to 50%. Applying these figures w
next section. have :

64
UNITED KINGDOM EXPERIMENTS

P+a=0.86
P_0.32--0.2
.'.a_0.56±0.2

Inserting these values, we find that the


type of reflection affects the total pressure
less than 10%. For convenience
by
we assume
J
g
J

L'
I
the reflection is diffuse. <
-2O L
As for the case of aerodynamic pressure, Ioo 2O0 3OO 4OO 5OO

the torque is averaged over a rotation of the DAYS

satellite, and expressed as a function of 0, FIGURE 3-49. Resultant total acceleration; (a) ob-
the aspect angle between the spin axis and the served and (b) calculated.
direction of the sun. The same expression
of course applies to the case of earth-emitted
Total Acceleration
and earth-reflected radiation, with appropri-
ate definitions of 0. We have converted torques due to aero-
For direct solar radiation torque, we then dynamic pressure and radiation pressure to
deduce the average per orbit by multiplying resultant spin rate aecelerations. We now
by the fraction of the orbit that is sunlit. adopt an estimate of about 1.5 years for the
For earth-emitted radiation, the torque half-life for deceleration due to magnetic
averaged round an orbit is very small. For damping. The accelerations due to these
a circular orbit the average would be exactly three forees have been summed, and are
zero. To a first approximation we therefore shown in figure 3-49 together with the ob-
neglect it. served acceleration.
Earth-reflected radiation, where it is a The aerodynamic effects were computed
maximum, acts in the opposite direction to the assuming that the spin axis was in the con-
solar radiation. Elsewhere its effective stant direction deduced for the first hundred
source is a point somewhere along the arc days, and the agreement of the calculated
between the sub-satellite point and the sub- and observed accelerations is a confirmation
solar point. We have made a rough approxi- of the essential correctness of this orienta-
mation to the average effect of this radiation tion, while the departure in phase for the
by reducing the value of the solar radiation later period is probably due to a significant
torque by one eighth. drift of the axis.

65
CHAPTER 4

Satellite Structure and Subsystems


The United States' responsibility for the Satellite Structure
satellite structure and subsystems was dis-
The spacecraft structure was divided into
charged by the Goddard Space Flight Center,
two main groups : the basic structure and the
and included the spacecraft structure, its
appendages. The basic structure was fur-
separation and release system, and all space-
ther divided into the following subcompo-
craft electronics not specifically associated
nents :
with an experiment. The remainder of this
1. Upper dome,
section describes these components and sys-
2. Mid-skin,
tems and summarizes their performance
3. Shelf and base assembly,
during the life of the satellite. The fact that
4. Lower dome
useful information was received from the
satellite over a period of more than two and The appendages were as follows:
one-half years attests to the generally suc- 1. Four solar paddles,
cessful performance of the spacecraft. 2. Two inertia booms,
3. Electron density experiment boom,
STRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL DESIGN 4. Electron temperature experiment
boom.
C. L. Wagner
5. Telemetry antennas.
The Ariel I structure and mechanisms de-
sign encompassed two separate major areas Design Parameters
of endeavor: (1) the satellite itself and (2) Several design considerations were para-
the development of a separation and release mount in the development of the structure:
system interface structure and associated The Scout 25.7-inch-diameter heat shield
mechanisms. limited the payload size to 23 inches in diam-
The satellite itself relied heavily on the use eter by 2 feet in length, not including certain
of epoxy-bonded filaments of Fiberglas, used experiments.
in combination with machined wrought alum- The aft appendages were folded into the
inum alloys far much of its structure. The space described by a hollow cylinder 23 inches
ancillary interface system (Dutchman and O. D. x 18 inches i. D. x 4 feet, 8 inches long.
separation structures) was largely composed The structure had to be manufactured of
of magnesium thin-wall castings. non-metals and/or nonmagnetic materials,
The overall spacecraft configuration is so that the effects of magnetic spin damping
shown in figures 4-1 and 4-2. Figure 4-1 would be reduced to a degree that the half-
shows the satellite as it was stored in the life of the satellite's spin rate be one year.
vehicle prior to deployment. Figure 4-2 The total satellite weight could not exceed
shows two views of the deployed satellite. 135 pounds.

67
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

SENSOR BOOM, ELECTRON TE_IPERA TURE

DEN MF / VIBRATION EXPE RIME NT

-SP' ..._CHANISMI / SOLAR PADDLE NO. 4 ANTENNA

LY_N-ALP,
HA
GAGE_3_ ! / ,N_RT,ABOOM/ ,SOLARPADD_
NO., /
COSM,C_¥
I JI_-I----/----_IW , /
MAss
S_CTROMETER
ANALYZER
/ _"1 .... ---/----_-'_--_W /

•", • " ,ii; / ii

STANDARD DELTA / / _-_--_-_ i i I / .

DELTAS
OUT'INE'E 'I',','I
D" ', \ ..... ---- W---- -,_
--
I J ' ] ' I I I I ' I ' I ' I ' 1 SOLAR PADDLE HINGE RELEASE MECHANISMS \

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 \

INCHES SENSOR BOOM, ELECTRON DENSITY

DE-SPIN TERMINAL BOARD (2)

_ PAY LOAD ENVELOPE v IBRA[LIEONREoXNP


_RIM EN T

ANTENNA SPRING_
. --_- __ _ __ _

,_.I
• .N •• Z__ 4
"'" _ =:-i_
7< i
.'_.'I

L " i

SURFACE ASPECT SENSOR /

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
INCHES

FI6URE 4-1. Ariel I before deployment; (Top) view along the Y axis, and (Bottom) view along the X axis.

The structure had to withstand accelera- material chosen for the skin of the Ariel I
tions and vibrations of the launch vehicle. was epoxy-bonded Fiberglas. The domes
In this case the ABL-X248-A5 motor (last were constructed from monofilament glass
stage) governed. fibers cross-woven into cloth laminations that
were molded into a spherical shell of 131fl-
Outer Structure
inch radius by 5,_/_ inches high. Shell Epon
As a result of the above considerations the 828 with a CL hardener was used as the bond-

68
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

riveted to the base of the dome to allow the

.×.
assembly to be bolted to the top of the 23-
BOOM"X
1 '' inch-diameter mid-skin. Holes were cut in
'_ _ INERTIA
the dome to allow attachment of experiments
ELECTRON
and antenna mounts.
TEMPERATURE
B.OOM
Mid-Skin. The mid-skin Fiberglas was
bonded and riveted to two end flanges, ma-
IIyI " "YI" chined from AISI 6061-T6 aluminum, which
were shaped to provide nonshifting attach-
ELECTRON
DENSITY
ment to the upper structure and the shelf-
BOOM base assembly. In detail, shear lips pre-
vented radial movement, pins prevented rota-
tional displacement, and machine screws tied
the components together.
Lower Dome. The lower dome was seg-
mented and fitted with doublers for installa-
tion of sensors and the segments themselves.
"z"
Gold-plated aluminum machine screws held
these components in position.

Shelf and Base Assembly

The instrument shelf and base assembly


was made from AISI 6061-T6 aluminum
rn
.,I"_" _:::__ SEPARATION plates, bars, and billets machined into shape
and semipermanently affixed into the assem-
_._ ,,!. _ PLANE
bly condition. Two views of the shelf and
base assembly are shown in figure 4-3. The
separate parts are as follows.
FIGURE 4--2. Ariel I deployed configuration. Shelf. The shelf was a 21-inch-diameter
plate 0.08 inch thick with eight integral
J stiffening ribs leading radially from a 71_-
ing agent. The top dome was _A6 inch thick, inch-diameter integral cylinder to the outer
and the bottom dome--basically used only as periphery. This undercarriage of ribbing
a thermal shield--was 1_2 inch thick. The tapered from 0.7 inch at the cylinder to 0.3
midskin was made from a cylinder of epon- inch at the 21-inch diameter periphery. The
bonded, monofilament-wound Fiberglas ¼6 top of the shelf at the 21-inch diameter was
inch thick x 23 inches in diameter x 10.7 dished upward one inch and then extended
inches long. radially to the 23-inch diameter. This step
Upper Dome. Into the top of the upper was machined to provide (1) a mounting sur-
dome skin was bonded and riveted an alumi- system and to provide a mating surface for
num disk 81/_ inches in diameter x 0.2 inch the mid-skin.
thick. Machined m_egrmiy............ wl_n, al_ua cei3-
trally located on, the disk is a 7-inch-I.D. inchesI.D. and fittedintothe 71_-inch-outer
thin-walled cylinder extending internally 3.7 diameter short-shelfcylinder,extending aft
inches. This hat-shaped structure supported 6Vz inches. The aft two inches were ma-
the cosmic ray-ion mass sphere experiments chined to an 81_-inch I. D. to provide proper
and the eight radial Fiberglas ribs, which view angles for the spin-axis-mounted elec-
were also attached to the dome skin--thus tron temperature sensor. The forward
giving stiffness and strength to the dome. A seven inch-diameter x 41/2-inch-long space
machined aluminum ring was bonded and was provided to contain the above sensor,

69
A R I E L I: T H E F I R S T I N T E R N A T I O N A L S A T E L L I T E

(c.1 VIEWED FROM ABOVE (hr VIEWED FROM BELOW

FIGURE
4-3. Shelf and base assembly.

the satellite’s tape recorder, and the boom solar paddles required a secondary folding
escapement mechanism. The outer diameter hinge a t the outboard end of each arm.
was machined t o provide (1) a mounting sur- From this secondary hinge extended the pad-
face for the separation adapter ring, ( 2 ) a dle interface of these two arms.
mounting surface for the bottom dome seg- Inertia Booms. The inertia booms, when
ments, and (3) a key for six support struts. extended, provided a proper moment of iner-
Struts. The six struts were each machined tia ratio so t h a t the longitudinal axis re-
from solid stock in the shape of a modified mained the spin axis of the spacecraft.
“I” beam. Each strut served to support the These booms were made of thin-walled tubes
shelf and to supply the mount for a paddle of epon-bonded Fiberglas cloth rolled into
arm or experiment boom hinge. The struts cylindrical shape. Each boom was attached
were keyed to the base and, after being to the shelf by a detent-locking, spring-
fastened into position with machine screws, loaded hinge, and the outboard end of its 30
were keyed to the shelf by shrink-fit shear inches terminated in a four-inch long, 0.7-
pins. pound stainless steel weight. Both the
Appendages inertia booms and the paddles were designed
to be erected a t 52.4 rpm, thus reducing spin
The eight appendages should be considered to 36.6 rpm.
in three separate groupings : paddle arms ;
Expcrinient Booms. The sensor booms
inertia arms; and sensor, or experiment,
were supplied by the experimenters, but the
booms.
method of erection was a structural responsi-
Paddle Arms. The paddle a r m and hinge
bility. The hinge halves were machined
design was suggested by that used on Ex-
from solid stock and used a double detent lock
plorer XI1 ; however, space considerations
and a torsion-spring positive force to assure
dictated by the Scout heat shield and paddle
opening in the event of no payload spin-up.
location restrictions required by the experi-
(This consideration was true in all appendage
ments complicated the design considerably.
extension.)
The arms themselves were long slender chan-
nels machined from AIS1 7075 aluminum.
Emipem e n t
One pair of arms lead directly from their
hinges to the paddle interface; but space and Normal erection rotation speed of the ex-
positional requirements for the other pair of perimcnt booms was 76.5 rpm, which would

70
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

have produced large shocks to the experi- Antennas


ments if these booms had been allowed to open
The four turnstile-type antennas were of
without restraint. As a result, an escape-
the double-fold design, so that they would fit
ment device was designed to reduce these
into the heat shield. These antennas were
forces by controlling erection speed.
located on the top dome equispaced 90 degrees
The clock escapement principle was em- apart, and in their erected position made an
ployed in the design of the timing mechanism.
angle of 40 degrees with the spin axis. Upon
Since the primary interest in the application ejection of the heat shield, the antennas were
was shock reduction rather than accuracy or
erected to their length of 213/_ inches.
timing, the less sophisticated mechanism
called a "run-away-escapement" was used. Battery Containers
It consisted of a gear train coupled to an
escape wheel, and a pallet fitted over the es- The two containers for the spacecraft bat-
cape wheel to control its rotation rate. Since tery power supply were designed to withstand
two booms are required to be simultaneously the force of expanding gas generated inter-
controlled, a double pulley mounted on a shaft nally in the sealed batteries, which could
was coupled to the free end of the gear train. result from a partial power system malfunc-
A doubled nylon cord, with one end attached tion. The container could withstand load-
to the boom and the other end to the pulley, ings of 50 pounds from each of two stacks of
served as the control link. The rotation rate batteries without significant expansion--thus
of the escapement was a function of the satel- preventing rupture of the batteries and sub-
lite acting torque and the moment of inertia sequent contamination of the payload.
of the part. The pallet's moment of inertia These containers were mounted on the instru-
was adjusted to allow the booms to erect in ment shelf and provided structural rigidity
2 or 3 seconds. This escapement was de- in the area of the inertia boom hinge.
signed to control the boom erection at a satel-
lite spin rate between 60 and 90 rpm. Structure Weight
By virtue of being tied together, the booms The above mentioned structural compo-
erected simultaneously, avoiding any unbal- nents and mechanisms, plus miscellaneous
ance that would cause coning of the payload. supports, brackets, and adapters accounted
(The other appendages opened too quickly to for 51.6 pounds of the total spacecraft weight.
create this problem.)
Separation and Release Systems
De.Spin Device
Although not a part of the spacecraft, the
The de-spin system was built in a self-con- separation and release system was responsible
tained ring fitting in the space provided at for programming proper de-spin of the sys-
the periphery of the shelf. It was of the tem, erection of the appendages, and separa-
"stretch yo-yo" design, which will de-spin a tion of the payload. The system was de-
system having a 20 percent nominal spin rate signed to adapt the spacecraft directly to the
error to 2 percent of the required final value. fourth stage of the Scout vehicle. A thin-
The basic components used a pair of ..... 1 walled, machined magnesium casting in the
weights attached to a matched pair of long shape of a hollow, truncated cone formed the
tension springs wound one-half turn about basic transition unit from the satellite to the
the payload. The weights were released by last stage. At the satellite interface were
pyrotechnique guillotine cutters, and the the separation spring, segmented Marman
weight-spring combinations released them- clamp, separation bolts, and the two 3-pin
selves from the s/c when in a radial attitude feed-through connectors that carry into the
from the spacecraft. By this system the pay- satellite the de-spin signal, battery charge,
load was de-spun from 160 to 76.5 rpm. and turn-on, turn-off circuit. The wide base

71
A R I E L I: T H E F I R S T I N T E R N A T I O N A L S A T E L L I T E

of the cone fit over the forward shoulder of Since the Thor-Delta can carry a heavier
the vehicle interface and was bolted t o studs payload than the Scout, the available space in
protruding from that surface. Fastened to the Dutchman cylinder was utilized t o contain
the cone itself were two 12-volt battery sup- the electronics and sensors of a vibration and
plies and an electronic release sequencer. contamination experiment. The total weight
Bonded to the cylinder of the X-248 motor of this composite was 17.0 pounds; the
were brackets and supports holding the re- Dutchman accounted for 7.3 pounds of this
lease cords and pin pullers-which, when re- total.
tracted, were to release the cords and allow
erection of the appendages. Total balanced Structural and Mechanical Performance
weight of this system was 18.3 pounds.
Within the limits of information available,
Delta Dutchman i t may be stated that the structural and
mechanical integrity of the spacecraft was
When the Ariel I was transferred to the maintained throughout the useful life of the
Thor-Delta vehicle, an adapter ring was re- satellite. The structure withstood launch and
quired to move the folded payload forward powered flight without discernible damage,
some 1 2 inches so that the petal-leaf second- and all appendages deployed, under the extra
to-third-stage separation skirt would not rigors of premature sudden de-spin, without
damage the sensor booms during stage sep- damage. Valuable data on Delta vehicle
aration. This Dutchman (Figure 4-4) was a vibration profile were obtained through the
vibration experiment placed in the Delta
Dutchman.

Premature DeXSpin

The premature de-spin was the one failure


that marred the structural and mechanical
performance of the spacecraft. Four de-spin
events occurred starting 100 seconds after
ignition of the third stage X-248 rocket
motor. Observed spin rate measurements and
anticipated spin rate curve are shown in fig-
ure 4-5 for comparison of these events with
those planned and predicted.
The measurements can be separated into
five phases. From the completion of spin-up
a t 1’81110” 56’, the spin rate increased to the
end of third-stage burning. It then re-
mained constant until 18” 121‘‘53.4”, after
which i t decreased in four well-defined steps
to 78 rpm a t 18” 14”’15“. This was the sec-
ond phase. The third lasted until 18’’25“ 30”.
From 18’’18”’20’ to 18’’21”’9”, the spin rate
FIGURE
4-4. Dutchman adaptor cylinder.
diminished continuously, not in steps, and
this is presumably true throughout the third
fabrication of cast magnesium end rings sep- phase. From 18l‘25”’30” to 18”2811’30’, the
arated by a 16-inch-diameter cylinder of rate once again diminished in steps, and
rolled and welded 0.09-inch-thick magnesium finally a t 18’’28”’ 31” it reached the value of
sheet. The riveted fabrication was 13.0 inch- 38.2 rpm, which was measured also a t the
es long. end of the first orbit.

72

223-270
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

1S0 ,

PHASE

I--, III _I: IV d= V

160

140

.f EXPECTED SPIN RATE BEHAVIOR


120

"_ 100

L
Z
E 80

6O

4O

2O

t I I I I I I I I I _ i
18h lOm 12m 14m 16m 18m 20m 22m 24m 26m 28m 30m 32m 34m

TIME OF OBSERVATION (UT)

FIGURE 4--5. Expected and anticipated spin rate curves.

The anticipated spin rate variation with 4. The final two solar paddles and inertia
time is also marked on the graph. Apart boom
from the agreement of the initial and final The spacecraft again saw rotational ve-
values, there is very little correspondence. locity changes in Phase IV: three de-spin
The four premature events which occurred sequences occurred at the prescribed time
in Phase II are shown in the graph of figure schedules. The first of these was undoubt-
4-5. The spacecraft rotational velocity edly due to yo-yo release, and the other two
changed from 158 to 122 rpm; then to 100 de-spins may have been due to pin puller re-
rpm; then to 90 rpm, and finally to 78 rpm in lease action. The point to be emphasized is
periods of less than 0.5 second each. A care- that, if the premature erection sequences
ful correlation of moment of inertia changes ,-_4-_,_a_T_ _;_ n_Pnr the structure received
versus spin rate changes indicated premature far more serious stresses than normal erec-
erection of appendages in the following or- tion would impart. Had not the design test
der: series been as stringent as it was--and action
taken to increase margins of safety where
1. Two adjacent solar paddles and one
deemed necessary--Ariel I surely would have
inertia boom
lost at least part of her appendages during
2. An experiment boom the premature de-spins.
3. A second experiment boom As a result of post launch tests and anal-

73
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

yses, the best explanation of the premature Laboratory tests of the nylon cord under
deployment, and resulting de-spin, is that the temperature and tension indicated a separa-
nylon tie-downs and/or RTV bonded tie-down tion temperature in the range of 413°F to
fittings failed because of third stage skin 459°F with initial tension of 80 pounds.
temperatures in excess of those on which the Comparing this range with the curve of fig-
tie-down system design was based. Typical ure 4-7, it seems quite probable that the
X-248 temperature curves, on which the de- premature de-spin at approximately 100 sec-
sign was based, are shown in figure 4-6. onds was caused by the failure of tie-downs
From these curves it was determined that under unanticipated temperature extremes.
materials in the tie-down system would be
subjected to heat only slightly in excess of Vibration Experiment
300°F. This was well within the tested The Delta Dutchman was used to house the
limits of the nylon tie-down cords and the GSFC vibration experiment. This experi-
RTV bonding materials. Unfortunately this ment was added after the change in vehicles
design did not take into account the effect of necessitating the Dutchman provided room
placing a foil shroud around the third stage for additional instrumentation. Its purpose
motor to vent outgassing material away from was to monitor flight vibration data for the
the spacecraft. Prior to flight, test data ultimate purpose of establishing environ-
were unavailable, and temperatures could not mental test specifications for spacecraft
be accurately predicted. Subsequent tests launched on Delta vehicles.
on an X-258 motor with and without the foil The experiment telemetered three channels
wrapping indicated a marked increase in sur- of data from liftoff to beyond premature de-
face temperature for the foil wrapped motor. spin of the Delta 9 vehicle. The three chan-
Figure 4-7 shows the mean curve for eight nels measured the vibrations along three
temperature sensors, located as shown in the orthogonal axes of the vehicle (longitudinal,
illustration, on the surface of an X-258 motor. lateral, and lateral + 90°).

400

t300 I

o..

g
200

100

_ APPROXIMATE SENSOR

LOCATION

L l t | I I I ____
IO0 200 300 400 500 600 700

TIME (Secondt From Ignition)

FIaURE 4--6. Typical temperature curves for X-248 rocket motor.

74
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

600

500

TEMPERATURE AT:

400 ALTITUDE 100,000 FT


SPIN RATE 200 RPM
MOTOR FOIL WRAPPED

300

8-

200

APPROXIMATE SENSOR LOCATIONS

100

I I I I I I
100 200 300 400 500 600

TIM[ ( Seconds From |gni_ion) _--

FIGURE 4-7. Mean temperature for eight sensors, foil wrapped X-258 motor.

Maximum vibration levels during first and results is given in NASA Technical Note,
second stage burning occurred at liftoff, TN D-1683.
staging, and fairing jettison with low levels
between events. The third stage motor ex- Detailed Data on Structure and Mechanical Design
hibited the normal resonant burning char- Physical measurements of the structures
acteristics for this type of motor; that is, the and mechanisms of the Ariel I payload are
tangential and longitudinal modes caused by presented as Appendix A.
acoustical cavity resonances.
A vibration summary 1rum
..... m_u" _,n__ _tTt?,Di i A t _T__XT A_TT_ _C_ATTbJ(_

ignition through second stage separation is


M. Schach
given in table 4-1. Vibratory acceleration
and
along thrust axis of the third stage is tabu-
R. E. Kidwell
lated in table 4-2. With reference to table
4-2, it should be noted that the validity of The thermal design was based on an anal-
values from 12 to 17 seconds is questionable ysis of temperatures at 22 points in the main
because charge amplifiers were overloaded. structure (figure 4-8) for the following
A full discussion of the vibration experiment parameters :

75
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

3. Internal power dissipation: 0.75, and


15 watts; and
4. Nominal or average values of the
solar constant and the properties of
the thermal coatings,and overall tol-
22
erances of ±10% to allow for season-
21 al variation of the solar constant, for
uncertainties in the _/_ of the thermal
18
coatings, and for approximations in
the analysis.
Similar design calculations were made for the
solar paddles and for the experiments
mounted on booms.
There were a number of problems in the
thermal design. First and foremost was the
conflict between the experimenters' require-
ment for a stable and highly conductive sur-
face, with a preference for gold or rhodium,
and a thermal requirement for surface coat-
ings with the proper and reliable values of
11
_/_, and a preference for a high percentage
FIGURE 4--8. Temperature sensor location. of black paint. The solution was a compro-
mise where 75% of the surface area was
coated with evaporated gold and the remain-
1. 63% and 100% sunlight; ing 25% of the surface was coated with
2. Solar Aspect: 0 (Broadside), -----30°, stripes of black and white paints.
±45 °, ±60 °, and -----90°, allowing for Another problem was the development of a
shading by solar paddles and booms; process for applying the thermal coatings to

TABLE 4-1.

Vibration Data Summary of Delta 9 Vehicle

Composite Acceleration (peak g)

Event
Lateral plus
Thrust Axis
I Lateral Axis 90-Degree Axis

First-Stage Ignition
T-1 0.5 0.5 0.3
Liftoff, T _-0 2.5O 1.9 0.9
Liftoff _-1 second 0.75 0.6 0.6
Main Engine Cutoff 2.0 0.3 0.4
Second-Stage Ignition
Jettison Fairing 0.25 1.0 1.0
Second-Engine Cutoff 2.25 0.3 0.3
Spinup 0.47 0.4
Blow Third-Second Stage
Separation Bolts 1.57 0.4
Third-Stage Ignition t

---*_l," signal dr,,n.,ut.


t See table 4 2.

76
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

¢_ v-a

t_ Ocq

x._

._._

"2. . . •

........ _ d

• "2.

....... eq ¢-i

77
A R I E L I: T H E F I R S T I N T E R N A T I O N A L S A T E L L I T E

the Fiberglas skins of the satellite that pro- the substrate when heated t o 250°F. Final
vided mirror-like gold surfaces with good adjustment of the d e was made by applying
adhesion and maintained the ability to with- white paint (ZnS, Silicone) over part of the
stand aerodynamic heating t o 250°F. I n ad- black paint areas.
dition, 1.5 mils of copper was required on the A third problem was t o provide adequate
cylindrical section and forward dome t o pro- temperature control for those experiments
vide a ground plane for the antennas. This which were not located centrally in the space-
problem was solved by developing the follow- craft, and whose temperatures could be ex-
ing process. First, the substrate was sand- pected to vary widely with changes in solar
ed, cleaned, and baked at 310°F for one hour. aspect. The solution of the problem was t o
Then layers of varnish, lacquer, paint, and adjust the coating patterns to minimize the
metals were applied in the following sequence temperature extremes thereby avoiding tem-
and baked a t the temperatures and for the peratures that could cause failures. As a n
time intervals indicated (See figure 4-9.) : example, for the cosmic ray experiment it
was necessary to keep the temperature of the
perspex sphere (figure 4-8, node 22) well
under 70"C, the sphere softening tempera-
ture, with sunlight incident on the forward
surfaces of the satellite. On the other hand,
when sunlight would be incident on the a f t
surfaces, the temperature of the photomulti-
plier (figure 4-8, node 19) could drop as low
as -16°C. This would be below the desired
minimum operating temperature but would
not cause failure.
Finally, there were two thermal problems
in conjunction with the launch phase. First,
the heat radiated from the inner walls of the
Delta nose fairing, followed by direct aero-
dynamic heating after fairing ejection, would
cause overheating of the thermal coatings on
the forward dome. Second, outgassing prod-
FIGURE
4-9. Thermal coatings.
ucts from the heated inner walls of the nose
fairing would condense on the spacecraft
1. Sealing varnish, 300°F for 20 minutes coatings causing a change in surface conduc-
2. Metallizing lacquer, 290°F for 30 min- tivity and an increase in the N / Z of the gold
utes surfaces. Tests simulating the launch en-
3. Silver paint, 280°F for 18 hours vironment showed that the problem could be
4. Electroplated copper, 1.5 mils avoided if the inner wall temperatures did not
5. Lacquer, 275°F for 30 minutes exceed 125°F. This was accomplished by ap-
6. Evaporated gold, opaque coating plying a n ablative compound to the external
7. Four spray coats of black silicone surfaces of the conical section of the nose
paint in longitudinal stripes, 250°F fairing to limit inner wall temperatures to
for 30 minutes. 200°F and by attaching with standoffs t o the
The lacquer was a special type developed inner wall an inner shield of Fiberglas im-
for providing a smooth, mirrorlike finish a s a pregnated with Teflon. The inner surface of
base for the evaporated gold. Sealing var- the mylar shield which viewed the satellite
nish plus repeated baking a t successively was not expected to exceed 125°F when a 3
decreasing temperatures was used to prevent sigma low trajectory was used to predict the
damage to the gold surface by outgassing of heating rates. The solution of the aerody-

78
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

namic heating problem was to delay the ejec- type test levels. Most of the time the tem-
tion of the nose fairing until the heating rate peratures ranged between 22°C and 30°C.
was sufficiently low to limit the maximum To assess the accuracy of the thermal de-
temperatures of the thermal coatings to sign the average internal power dissipation
250°F. must be known. Since this was not tele-
metered it was estimated as a fixed load of 5
Thermal Performance
watts plus the percentage time in sunlight,
Temperatures were monitored at three times the product of the maximum charging
points in the satellite. However, tempera- current to the battery, and the voltage of the
ture data have been made available for only charge regulator. Both the current and the
one of these points, the temperature of the voltage were temperature dependent, and the
University College, London, Stack @2, lo- values used correspond to the observed tem-
cated on the main shelf. These data can be peratures. The power estimates used were
used as a measure of the average temperature 11 watts at 64% sunlight and 25°C, and 13
of the satellite and are plotted in Appendix B, watts at 100% sunlight and 45°C. A com-
along with data on percentage time in sun- parison of observed temperatures at 64%
light, solar aspect, etc. and 100% sunlight with corresponding pre-
The maximum predicted temperature for dictions based on nominal design parameters
the observed range of orbital conditions was and the above power estimate is shown in
40°C. Whenever the satellite went into table 4-3. It is noted that the flight temper-
100% sunlight, the average temperatures atures were from 9°C to 16°C higher than
ranged from 42°C to 47°C. This occurred predicted. For the values shown in the table
for periods of from 4 to 10 days about four the average error is 12°C. This would cor-
times a year. During these times the tem- respond to a 17 % error in the computed heat
peratures were 2°C to 7°C above maximum flow based on nominal values or 7% greater
predicted values but remained within the than the assumed _+10% tolerances. When
10°C safety margin between flight and proto- the tabulated values are grouped according

TABLE 4-3.

Observed Temperatures With Corresponding Predictions

Percentage Solar Prediction Observed Erro


Date Sunlight Aspect oC °C oC

May 3, 1962 64 40 13 24 11
May 25, 1962 100 34 32 42 10
June 16, 1962 64 30 13 23 10
Aug. 5, 1962 100 0 33 47 14
Aug. 21, 1962 64 0 14 23 9
Oct. 1, 1962 64 -32 10 24 14
Nov. 4, 1962 64 -25 10 26 16
Nov. 28, 1962 100 -15 31 42 11
Nov. 29, 1962 100 -15 31 45 14
Feb. 25, 1963 64 -15 12 28 16
Apr. 1, 1963 64 0 14 24 10
June 22, 1963 64 15 13 22 9
Aug. 27, 1963 64 30 13 26 13
Dec. 17, 1963 64 0 14 29 15
May 8, 1964 64 45 13 25 12
Aug. 26, 1964 64 0 14 25 11

79
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INT ERNATIONAL SATELLITE

to positive, zero, and negative solar aspects, the radiation from the high altitude explosion
the average errors are ll°C, 12°C, and 14°C, of July 9, 1962, did not cause either a sudden
respectively. Since paddle shading occurred or a gradual increase in satellite temperature.
at negative aspects only, one can conclude that Most of the degradation that might have oc-
the basic error in the thermal design was curred must have happened during the first
ll°C or 12°C and that an additional 2°C or few days. This is consistent with data from
3°C can be attributed to error in the analysis ground tests with UV radiation. With sam-
of paddle shading. The basic error can be ples of white paint and of evaporated metals,
attributed primarily to error in the measure- for which there is some evidence of surface
ments of the optical properties of the thermal contamination, the degradation is very rapid
coatings and to changes in these properties for the first few days and then tends to level
prior to or after launch. Because of im- off. The causes of surface contamination
provements in measurement techniques since have not yet been evaluated. Possible sus-
Ariel I, 6% of the 17% total error can be pects are contaminants in the application
attributed to errors in measurement of the process, diffusion pump oil from thermal-
absorptance of the black paint and of the vacuum tests, and the use of protective coat-
emittance of both the black and white paints. ings.
The remaining 11% error can be attributed
to increased absorptance due to degradation ELECTRONIC SYSTEM
of the white paint and the evaporated gold. J. Turkiewicz
Increased absorptances either from 0.25 to
0.45 for white paint or from 0.25 to 0.30 for The major functions of the electronics sup-
gold would account for the 11% error. plied by the Goddard Space Flight Center
A gradual degradation of the coatings is were to provide power to all spacecraft sys-
not apparent in the temperature data. Even tems, process and store data from the U.K.

UNITED KINGDOM NASA / GSFC

.J ONE-YEAR J I
TRANSM TTER _ TIMER

POWER | J _ TRANSMITTER
II

[ XP[RI ME'_'T i HS Data [ I A II Dota I ' T


PROBES J I I (serial) ._J I 1
AND J DA LS Data .I _
SYSTEM
SIGNAL I ANTENNA
--'_ ENCODERJ LS Data _ PROGRAMMER Jd _
CONDITIONING|
I [ "[ r I
SUBCARRIER OSC'S
ELECTRONICS /

POWERTOAL C'RCU'TS
| I RECE, ER
T , ;
SUBSYSTEM RECORDER

POWER INJECTION SQUIBS


SUPPLY H PROGRAMMER
ORBITAL _J DEPLOYMENT i

FmURE 4-10. Electronic subsystems, functional block diagram.

8O
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

supplied experiments, and transmit these DATA


CHANNEL
SYNC
CHANNEL

data, both real time and stored, to ground


20M,_t,__ /--5.0 TO 15KC_":::S _ /-4.5 TO I5.5KC
tracking stations. Additional and independ-
ent electronic modules were provided by
GSFC to program deployment events associ-
ated with orbital injection. This section SAMPLE OF HIGH SPEED ENCODER OUTPUT

describes those portions of spacecraft elec-


tronics provided by GSFC. (Experiment
electronics, supplied by the U.K., are described
in Chapter 3.) However, the interface be- 960 MS 1

tween the experiments and GSFC electronics


is discussed briefly where appropriate. SAMPLE OF LOW SPEED ENCODER OUTPUT TO TAPE RECORDER

The functional block diagram of figure 4-


FIGURE 4-12. Idealized encoder output waveforms.
10 illustrates the manner in which GSFC
electronics accomplished their purpose. Data
from experiment probes were converted by
the U.K. experiment signal conditioning pack- idealized waveforms of these outputs to the
ages, to signals suitable for use by "analog programmer. The high-speed output con-
and digital oscillator cards" furnished by sists of 10-millisecond information bursts
the GSFC as a part of the encoder. Conver- separated by 10-millisecond spaces, except
sion of high-speed data to an FM analog in for the synch channel which consists of a 15-
the range of 5kc to 15kc is illustrated in the millisecond burst and a 5-millisecond space.
graphs of figure 4-11. Low speed data were The low-speed output consists of 960-milli-
converted in a similar manner, but the fre- second channels, each of which is divided into
quency range was divided by 48. a 480-millisecond space and a 480-millisecond
burst of low-speed information.
The programmer accepts the serial outputs
from the encoder and acts as the control ele-
j- ment in routing them to the tape recorder
o
and transmitter as required. In normal op-
c/ c/
w eration, the high-speed data were routed to
nr _r TT FT
tl. tl. the transmitter for real-time transmission,
15 [--Fii _ t l and the low-speed data were routed to the
15 I
tape recorder for storage. Once every orbit,
0 -5, o(_ o
_o--= when the satNlite was over a ground station,
o

VOLTS IN BINARY BITS IN


a command to read out the stored data was
ANALOG OSCILLATOR DIGITAL OSCILLATOR transmitted. On receipt of this command
from the receiver, the programmer switched
FIGURE 4--11. Probe data conversion.
the recorder to playback mode; the recorder
played back stored low-speed data at 48 times
Both low-speed and high-speed data were the recording speed so that the recorder out-
read out of their respective conditioning and put to .l_l__ __...... ;4-)r_'a_ * laa'lz'e {ha _gm_ gig the

oscillator circuits serially under control of high-speed encoder output; the programmer
synchronizing and gating signals from the switched transmitter input from high-speed
encoder. These signals were generated by to low-speed data; and the stored data were
two electronic commutators in the encoder, transmitted to the ground station. After re-
one high-speed and one low-speed, operating corded data were transmitted the program-
simultaneously. (Low-speed data were stored mer switched the recorder back to record
on the tape recorder while high-speed data mode and restored the real-time input to the
were being transmitted. ) Figure 4-12 shows transmitter.

81
ARIEL I: THE FIRST IN TERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Power to the transmitter was provided The low-speed encoder sequence consisted of
through a timer designed to cut off the trans- two 15-channel frames.
mitter after one year of operation. (Fortu- The block diagram of figure 4-15 shows the
nately, this timer failed to operate allowing major functional elements of the encoder and
more data to be collected.) The transmitter their relationship to the experiments and
relayed all data to ground stations via the an- other spacecraft system elements. The pri-
tenna system. Transmitter output format is mary encoder element is a crystal-controlled
shown in figure 4-13. clock, the crystal frequency of which is
divided to produce a 50-cps signal for the
high speed (HS) encoder data rate. The 50
cps is divided by 48 to produce the low speed
(LS) encoder data rate of 50/48 cps.
COMMAND SIGNAL- /-2 MIN. TAPE RECORDER PLAYBACK Operation of the HS encoder was made
independent of the operation of the LS en-
coder for increased reliability. However, a
loose type of synchronization between the two
J 2 SPE
ENCODE.
O LF SJDEN ODER
L encoders was provided, synchronization being
achieved when both encoders start their
TELEMETRY PROGRAM

FIGURE 4-13. Transmitter output format.

CHANNEL

The antenna system consisted of a four ele- oJ,] l 141,1,j,j


19I,o1,,I,21,31,
ment array and a power divider which allows 0 C Cz C3 E3 E4 E, E_ Tl T2 U, uz E_

the system to be utilized for both transmit- I


C4 CS C6

ting and receiving. The receiver was used 2 Ts L E_,

exclusively for the data readout command. 3


T. Aq E_,

A separate electronic system was provided U3 Az Em=

for orbital injection programming. Oper- _" P't P

ating from an independent power supply, this


7

electronic clock provided the signal to actuate 8 C, C2 C_

separation and appendage deployment squibs C4 C5 C6

at the right time and in the proper sequence. I0


Ts L E.,

II T,_ AI Era,

ENCODER 12
Us A_ Em_

13
H. White P P,, P

L4 I_ X_ X2

The overall function of the encoder was to Xs X. X_

re-arrange the data from the experiments


into channels and frames for transmission via HIGH-SPEED FORMAT

the telemetry transmitter. The encoder is


a two-speed device providing high-speed en-
coding (50 cps) for real time data and low- CHANNEL

speed encoding (50/48 cps) for stored data.


13L,1 :F, Tq; L, A,,l
Table 4-4 identifies all inputs to the encoder 0 S x, x., E4 El E= £s Xb C, Cz Cs C4 x, A s C_ C 6

identifying each as to whether it is high-speed


(HS) or low-speed (LS) data. Encoder out-
put format is shown in figure 4-14. A high-
LOW-SPEED FORMAT

speed encoder sequence consisted of 16 frames


each containing 16 information channels. FIGURE 4--14. Eneoder output formats.

82
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

TABLE 4-4.

Encoder Input Data

Nomencla- Nomencla-
Experiment ture of Each Experiment ture of Each"
Output Output

Electron temperature U1--HS X-ray counter--Con.


no. 1 U_--HS X,--HS
U,--HS Xs--HS
U_--HS Xm,--HS
UI--LS XmR--HS
U2--LS X,--LS
U3--LS X._,--LS

Electron temperature T,--HS Cosmic ray C,--HS


no. 2 T_--HS C2--HS
T3--HS C3--HS
Tm--HS C4--HS
T,--LS C_--GS
T2--LS C,--HS
T3--LS C_--LS
C_--LS
Mass spectrometer I1--HS C,--LS
12--HS C4--LS
I3--HS C_--LS
Im_--HS C4--LS
Im --HS
Electron density E_--HS
Lyman-alpha E,--HS
E3--HS
E_--HS
Aspect A ,--HS E.n--HS
A2--HS E,.2--HS
A3--HS E,.,--HS
A 3--LS E,.4--HS
E_--LS
Performance parameters P--HS E,--LS
PV,--HS E3--LS
PV2--HS E4--LS
Pt_--HS Em,--LS
Em2--LS
X-ray counter X ,_--H S Em3--LS
X2--HS Em,--LS
X,--HS

83
A R I E L I: T H E F I R S T I N T E R N A T I O N A L S A T E L L I T E

r--------
ENCODER
-- -- 1 I- - - - --- -- - - - 7
ENCODER INPUT GATES

UK-I CLOCK S Y S T E M
SYNC - I UNIVERSITY C O L L E G E . L O N D O N . I
PULSES U N I V E R S I T Y COLLEGE. 7 OSCILLATORS A N 0 INPUT GATES

I I
r LONDON, E X P E R I M E N T S
INPUT
23
I
!
ANALOG
1 5 DIGITAL
I O ANALOG
HIGH S P E E D INPUTS
HIGH S P E E D INPUTS
LOW S P E E D INPUTS 7 II
I DIGITAL OSCILLATOR
SPEED AND L O W SPEED

I
IMPERIAL COLLEGE
OSCILLATORS AND I N P U T GATES
HIGH SPEED -..--^...-..I^

MATRIX A N 0
COUNTDOWN
I
I
I SlnL
PULSE 5
U N l V E R S l T I OF

BIUMINGHAM EX1’ L R I M F N T S
l N P u l ~_ _/ l ~ ~ -
OSCILLATORS A N D INPUT GATES
8 ANALOG HIGH SPEED INPUTS
B ANALOG LOW SPEED INPUTS ~

MATRIX AND , I/ 2 ANALOG OSCILLATORS

I JNIT I HIGH C I P F t D ANG LOW S P F F O T,ATtNG PUL5tS I I I

SYNC
GENERATOR I
I
HIGH S P E E D O S C I L L A T O R S OUT

I TAPE RECORDER PROGRAMMER TRzz::$lNt


G
FIGURE
4-15. Encoder functional block diagram.

respective sequences within 20 milliseconds


of each other. Where the time difference
was greater than 20 milliseconds, a “blipper”
circuit shortened the LS sequence by 20 milli-
seconds, causing the next LS encoder sequence
to begin 20 milliseconds earlier. This “blip-
per” operated once for each LS encoder se-
quence until synchronization was achieved
between the two encoders.
The encoder circuits were solid state cir-
cuits packaged on printed circuit cards. The
encoder shown in figure 4-16 is a duplicate of
the Ariel I flight encoder.
As f a r as can be determined from available HIGH SPLEO Y I T R I X
E L F C I R O N OENSIl‘I CARO

data, all encoder circuits operated reliably


and in accordance with design characteristics
throughout the useful life of the satellite.
PROGRAMMER
J . Schaffert
The main function of the programmer was C 0 5 ~ 1 rR A Y C l R D “Nl” L OF
I I <,I LOWOON CARD No 2
t o control the transmission of 1,s and HS
encoder data to the ground station. A block FIGURE
4-16. Encoder circuit cards (not to scalc).

84
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

'L'''0'Ji q LS
BLA""
I I OATE
T I ['R
, I'N'N0'OR_HO'V'D_
B_'I '_O:'q BO"ER
H /

, '11 I
-_TRANSMITTER

, ]
IW
_ ::22F
I ,.o-..T,.iNO
_ i _E,..Y
I INC..___
I GENERATOR J +15 volts PLAYBACK TO RECORD

]'(,BACKUP
_---TAPE RECORDER)
TIMER FOR | I OPEl[ATE _I NOO l

I I (5"fOP) J C_._;UIT _ [ RELAY I J

RELAY_"C _..___.+,5 .o,,,


OPERATE
t_l ,,Oo I RECC)RO TO PLAYBACK

C,RCO,T
I I RELAY2 J

ENO OF PLAYBACK

CONTROL BIAS

DATA

FIGURE 4-17. Programmer functional block diagram.

diagram of the programmer is shown in figure a. Triggers two-second gate generator


4-17. With reference to this diagram the and 160-second timing generator.
programmer sequence of events was as fol- b. Two-second gate generator enables
lows : the 320.83 cps signal to be recorded
1. Before command from Command Re- on tape recorder ; inhibits the high-
ceiver : sp_d data to the transmitter, and
a. HS data applied through HS data enables the 320.83 cps signal to be
gate and mixer to transmitter. applied to the transmitter as iden-
b. LS data applied through LS mixer tification of successful command.
to record input of tape recorder. c. The end of the two-second gate
c. Blank gate from LS encoder causes generator output signal energized
a burst of 320.83 eps signal to be relay 1, causing the tape recorder
recorded. to switch from record to playback.
2. Command from Command Receiver: d. Playback output of the tape record-

85
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

er is played back at 48 times record formance can be made. There are logical
speed and is applied through HS arguments that the periodic appearance of
mixer to transmitter. 320 cps modulation on the received telemetry
e. Output of 160-second timer inhibits signal for relatively long periods of time could
the HS data gate, preventing the have been caused by intermittent failure of
transmission of HS data while LS one or more of the programmer circuits.
data are transmitted. The 160- However, attempts to reproduce this failure
second timer is also used as a back- in the laboratory by varying environmental
up device to the playback timer in parameters were inconclusive. It can only
the tape recorder. be stated that all programmer circuits op-
f. The end of the 160-second timer erated satisfactorily prior to the Starfish
signal opens the HS data gate and event, after which there may have been an
energizes relay 2. intermittent circuit failure.
g.
Output of relay 2 switches tape re-
TAPE RECORDER
corder from playback to record.
h. The end-of-playback signal from P. T. Cole
tape recorder inhibits the 160-sec-
The magnetic tape recorder was designe(
ond timer for the tape recorder
with the following characteristics:
only if the recorder switches auto-
Tape Speed
matically from playback to record.
Record Mode---0.25 ips
3. End of playback cycle :
Playback Modeh12 ips
a. Programmer is returned to the
Power Consumption (Over temp. range o:
condition outlined in 1 above.
--20°C to q-30°C)
At the end of the two seconds of 320.83 cps
Record Mode--0.5W
the programmer (1) switched the tape re-
Playback Mode--0.75W
corder from record to playback simultaneous-
Flutter--1% p-p from dc to 200 cps
ly shifting the tape speed to 48 times its
Dynamic Signal-to-Noise Ratio_30 db (min.:
record speed, and (2) connected the transmit-
A functional block diagram of the recorde:
ter to the tape recorder.
is shown in figure 4-18. The recorder uti
Transmission of tape recorder playback
for a period of 125 to 134 seconds was con-
trolled by a timer in the tape recorder. This
period of time was sufficient to play back all
stored data. This included a 15.4-kc pulse,
approximately 42 milliseconds long, which is
the playback of the two seconds of the 320.83
cps signal recorded immediately prior to tape
recorder playback. This pulse indicated the
end of LS encoder data and also served as a
time reference for correcting data from both
encoders.
The programmer circuits were packaged on FIGURe 4--18. Tape recorder functional block di;
gram.
two printed circuit cards. Card No. 1 con-
tained the high- and low-speed encoder signal
chains. Card No. 2 contained those circuits lized a continuous loop tape to record al
associated with the command signal and re- playback low-speed encoder data. It operat,
corder control. All circuits were solid state under control of programmer circuits whic
to meet space, weight, and reliability con- in turn, were responsive to commands r
straints. ceived via the command receiver. Low-spe_
No clear-cut analysis of programmer per- encoder data were recorded at 0.25 ips al

86
SATELLITE STRUCTURE A N D SUBSYSTEMS

FIGURE
4-19. Tape recorder with cover removed.

played back at 12 ips, making the modulation is separately packaged on a printed circuit
frequency range of the low-speed data the card as shown in figure 4-20.
same as that of high-speed data. The tape recorder performed reliably from
The physical configuration of the recorder launch to the end of July 1962, a t which time
is shown in figure 4-19. It is packaged in a it failed. The exact nature and cause of its
cylindrical configuration with a mounting failure cannot be determined. Although this
plate approximately midway across the cylin- failure occurred shortly after the Starfish
drical envelope. On one side of the mounting event, there is no clear-cut evidence relating
plate are the drive motor and drive mech- failure to irradiation of any of its compo-
anism along with recorder electronics. On nents. The failure became manifest when
the other side the tape reel tension arms and command trial produced no playback, how-
heads are mounted. The d-c control circuit ever, the background noise of the recorder

Lu
Ln

I
v
1
2
motor was evident, indicating that the motor
was still operative. Further analysis indi-
cates that the motor, playback amplifier, and
“back-up” record mode timer remained oper-
ative throughout the useful life of the satel-
lite.

Tape Recorder Stall Power Switch


and Timer-T. D. Clem

’f
0

FIGURE
4-20. Direct current control circuit card.

87
This device was designed to remove power
from the tape recorder in case of motor stall.
If the motor current drain exceeded 300 mil-
liamperes f o r more than 70 seconds, the
power to the tape recorder would be removed.
This circuit was reset each time a playback
command was received. This circuit was
A R I E L I: T H E F I R S T I N T E R N A T I O N A L S A T E L L I T E

separately packaged on a printed circuit card. Power Output-250 mw


It was designed to operate only in a n emer- Frequency-136.410 mc/si0.002 %
gency, and there is no evidence that it was Modulation-Square Wave P h a s e k l rad.
ever required to operate. Incidental Frequency Modulation-<2.5
CPS
TELEMETRY TRANSMITTER Incidental Frequency Modulation-<3 %
D. S. Hepler Input Voltage-18vdc
Power Drain-9OOmw
The telemetry transmitter was designed Harmonic Power-60db
for a minimum of one year’s continuous oper- The functional elements of the transmitter
ation with the following operational char- a r e a crystal-controlled oscillator operating at
acteristics : a frequency of 68.205 megacycles; a buffer

H A R M O N I C FILTER TRANSMITTER SUBASSEMBLY


4%’!
4 c
Dqivrr
AND FINAL
AMPLIFIIP 1
ro5C’LLAro”

1 HOUSING

FIGURE
4-21 Transmitter packaging.

88
SATELLITE S T R U C T U R E AND SUBSYSTEMS

stage t o isolate t h e oscillator from the phase Circuit type-Superheterodyne


modulator ; a phase modulator that varies the Modulation-Amplitude
phase of the carrier (the instant phase excur- Sensitivity-> -100dbm
sions a r e controlled by the LS and HS encoder Power Requirement- +12vdc 0 4 ma
output data) ; a doubler stage t h a t multiplies The receiver is a double-superheterodyne
the modulator output frequency to 136.410 unit with a n amplitude-modulation detector.
mc/s; a driver stage to amplify the doubler A decoder, which follows the detector, con-
output power to about 60 milliwatts; a final tains a tone filter, a signal integrating circuit,
amplifier that delivers 250 milliwatts to an and a n output trigger circuit t o signal the
antenna load impedance of 50 ohms; and a programmer to switch the tape recorder from
harmonic filter to prevent radiation of un- record to playback. The subcarrier tone t h a t
wanted harmonics of the carrier frequency. amplitude-modulates the received signal, must
The telemetry transmitter module is shown be present for 0.1 second minimum, and the
in figure 4-21. The transmitter module con- carrier must be modulated at least 30 percent
tains two major subassemblies : the transmit- before the decoder will command.
t e r rejection filter and the transmitter The receiver physical configuration is
subassembly. The four-section transmitter shown in figure 4-22. All components a r e
rejection filter filters the signal from the mounted on a printed circuit board which is
antenna to the command receiver, and is installed in a single shielded container.
located on the transmitter module due to
space considerations. The transmitter sub-
assembly consists of a machined, compart-
mented casting with functional elements
housed as shown. This design provides RFI
shielding for the transmitter as well as inter-
stage shielding within the unit. The trans-
mitter is transistorized to provide compact-
ness, light weight and high reliability.
The telemetry transmitter performed
throughout the useful life of the satellite with
no measurable degradation in signal strength
or modulation characteristics. The unit was
evaluated in February 1965, at which time it
was noted that the measured carrier fre-
quency was 136.405 mc/s. Although this
shift from the original frequency is in excess
of the design tolerance of 0.002%, it is ap-
proximately what would be expected from FIGURE
4-22. Command receiver packaging.
radiation and aging of the frequency deter-
mining quartz crystal for the extended period Receiver performance was satisfactory
of operation. The 0.002% tolerance was over the entire useful life of the satellite.
based on a life of one year, but the transmitter The command receiver was intermgated n n
operated reliably f o r more than twice that February 4, 1965, by the Blossom Point
period. Tracking Station. The command was suc-
cessful as evidenced by the presence of the
COMMAND RECEIVER “horn” and the change in modulation char-
D. S. Hepler acteristics of the transmitter. No accurate
information is available on the present re-
The command receiver was designed with ceiver sensitivity or shift of frequency of the
the following basic characteristics : local oscillators as caused by aging and radia-

89
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTER NATIONAL SATELLITE

tion effects. The last interrogation, how- eludes a coaxial hybrid power divider, coaxial
ever, did indicate the sensitivity was sufficient phasing lines, and a canted turnstile antenna.
for normal network operations. The hybrid power divider and filter provide
about 20-decibel isolation between the com-
ONE.YEAR TIMER mand receiver and the transmitter. The an-
J. Schaffert tennas are driven from the base, each pair
A one-year timer (figure 4-23) was incor- acting as a dipole, with the dipole pairs in
phase quadrature. Radiation in the plane of
porated in the spacecraft to remove power
the turnstile is essentially linear, while cir-
cular polarization is obtained along the spin
J
, ; ............ _ r ............. , • ....... N-El ....... /
axis. The total power radiated varies with
satellite aspect from _-2 to --4 decibels rela-
TIMER SWITCH I_ tive to an isotropic radiator. Spacecraft
commands are received through the same an-
tenna system and have about the same pat-
tern, but see an additional two decibel loss
because of mismatch at the command fre-
I I I I i quency.
0 1 2 3 4 Antenna system performance was satisfac-
INCHES tory and in accordance with design character-
istics throughout the life of the satellite.
The characteristic variations in radiated
power with changing aspect proved very use-
FIGURE 4--23. One-year timer. ful in obtaining a reasonably accurate esti-
mate of spin rate after the spin rate sensor
from the transmitter at the end of one year. failed. This was accomplished by establish-
Two timers were used in a parallel redundant ing a correlation between spin rate data
hookup. The timers employed an electro- before failure and recorded receiver agc
chemical de-plating process having a timing voltages. Having established such a correla-
accuracy of ±10 percent. tion, spin rate could be estimated from agc
This type of timer appeared to be ideal curves taken after spin rate failure.
for long term, low accuracy, timing applica- POWER SYSTEM
tions because of its simplicity and small F. C. Yagerhofer
weight and space requirements. Fortuitous-
Power to the spacecraft electronics was
ly, the timer failed, and useful data were col-
lected over a period of approximately two and provided by a solar cell array and two battery
packs. Power control and regulator circuits
one-half years.
include a shunt voltage limiter, a battery
There is no specific information from the
charging current limiter, a battery switching
spacecraft to indicate the reason for the fail-
network, an undervoltage detector, a hold-off
ure. However, subsequent tests indicate that
relay and turn-on plug, and several de-to-de
timing action probably ceased because of
converters.
electrolyte leakage, which effectively shunted
The functional relationships among the
the polarizing current. As a result of its
major elements are shown in the block dia-
performance on the spacecraft and the subse-
gram of figure 4-24. A brief description of
quent tests, this timer is not considered ade-
each of the major components is given in the
quate for long-term applications.
following paragraphs.
RF ANTENNAS
Solar Cell Array L. Slifer
J. K. Steekel The solar cell array consists of four solar
The Ariel I spacecraft antenna system in- paddles (figure 4-25) arranged in a series-

9O
-
S A T E L L I T E S T R U C T U R E A N D SUBSYSTEMS

SOLAR
ARRAY , CURRENT
LIMITER
SWITCHING
NETWORK
CONVERTERS
(4)
I I 1
I
I
I
v

3
I
SHUNT
SHUNT BATTERY BATTERY
UNDERVOLTAGE
VOLTAGE A B
DETECTOR
LIMITER

FIGURE
4-24. Power system functional diagram.

parallel matrix. It furnished 0.5 to 2 am- aspect to the sun and radiation degradation.
peres at 15 volts, depending on the spacecraft The solar cells a r e p-on-n type silicon cells
that perform as photoelectric converters.
The cells a r e flat mounted, of gridded con-
struction, and exhibit a high efficiency.
While the spacecraft is orbiting in sunlight,
the solar cells power all electronic subsystems
on board the spacecraft and supply a charging
current to the two battery packs.

Shunt Voltage Limiter-J. Paulkovich


The shunt voltage limiter regulates the
solar paddle output voltage t o 14.5 volts.
Excess power from the solar paddles is
dumped through a pair of power resistors
located on the arms that extend the solar
paddles ; the dumping is controlled by a pair
of power control transistors.

Battery Charger Current Limiter-L. Veillette


The battery charging current limiter (fig-
ure 4-26) regulates the battery charging
current to a value not in excess of 0.5 ampere.
This current prevents the generation of
hydrogen in the batteries due t o excessive
charging currents.

Battery Packs-E. R. Stroup


Each battery pack consists of ten individ-
ual cells connected in series. The cells a r e
nickel-cadmium, sintered-plate type, hermeti-
FIGURE
P25. Solar cell array. cally sealed in a stainless-steel case. Each

91

~~ ~
A R I E L I: T H E F I R S T I N T E R N A T I O N A L S A T E L L I T E

batteries exceeds 1.2 volts, the standby bat-


tery is connected to operate the spacecraft.

Undervoltage Detector-J. Schaffert

The undervoltage detector (figure 4-28)


disconnects both battery packs from the
v, spacecraft electronics when the output volt-
W
I

OJ

FIGURE
4-26. Battery current regulator.

cell has a nominal potential of 1.3 volts. All FIGURE


4-28. Undervoltage detector.
ten cells have a nominal output of 13 volts.
age of both batteries falls below the minimum
h t t e r y Switching Network L. Vrillette
acceptable level. The detector also activates
The battery switching network (figure a recycling timer which, after 18 hours, con-
4-27) connects the battery with the higher nects the battery output to the spacecraft
voltage to operate the spacecraft. The other electronics. During the 18 hours, the bat-
teries are connected to the solar cell array
and are charged. At the end of the 18-hour
charging period, the batteries a r e connected
to the spacecraft electronics. If, after this
charging period, the batteries a r e still below
the minimum acceptable level, the charging
cycle is repeated.

Dc,to,Dc Converters--F. C. Y.igerhofer


The dc-to-dc converters supply the different
dc voltage levels required to operate the
spacecraft electronics. There a r e four con-
verters in the power system: the prime con-
verter, encoder converter, U.K. converter,
and undervoltage detector converter. Con-
verter circuit cards are shown in figure 4-29.
The prime converter is connected to the
FIGURE
4-27. Battery selector.
main powerline at the output of the under-
voltage relay. The outputs of this converter
battery is connected to the solar cell a r r a y a r e +12 and -18 volts, regulated to 1percent
and receives a trickle charge from the array. at 80-percent efficiency. This converter sup-
When the voltage difference between the two plied power to the transmitter, command

92
SATELLITE STRUCTURE AND SUBSYSTEMS

5-

4-

m 3-
I
U
I: -

1-

OJ
ENCODER CONVFRTIR

:.- 1 CONVERTER

FIGURE
4-29. De to dc converter cards.

receiver, programmer, encoder converter, and imately 50 percent. This converter is dis-
U.K. converter. connected from batteries only when the hold-
The encoder power converter furnishes the Off is actuated.
+1.9, -4.0, -6.2, -2.7, and +6.7 volts t o the
encoder. The -2.7 volts is regulated to 0.25 Pre,Launch Power Control
percent ; all the remaining voltages are regu-
lated t o 5 percent. This converter has an
A turn-on plug and a hold-off relay were
provided to control the application of power
efficiency of about 30 percent.
to spacecraft systems during ground oper-
The U.K. converter supplies all power to ations. The turn-on plug is a bridging con-
the experiments. The output voltages are nector which opened battery circuits when
+6.5, f15, and -6.5 volts-all a t -t5 per- removed. Blockhouse control for turning
cent; -9.0 volts a t + l o percent; 12 volts a t the spacecraft power system on and off with
-- norcont.
+R r------.., -1-5 T T S ! ~ at
~ p e y e c t ; zr,d ihe iurri-uii p l u g irisiaiied iri iiie spacecrali
24 volts a t _t8 percent. The overall efficiency was effected by de-energizing and energizing
is about 60 percent. the hold-off relay, respectively, from the
The undervoltage detector circuit convert- blockhouse. When the spacecraft was
e r is connected to the main power line; this launched, the hold-off relay was in its de-
converter furnished +15 and -18 volts, both energized state, thereby connecting the bat-
at -t5 percent and a t a n efficiency of approx- tery system to operate the spacecraft.

93
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Solar Array Performance--L. W. Slifer The error of this assumption is evident in


that the best calculable estimate of solar cell
The specific cause, or causes of undervolt-
degradation is 50 percent which is not suffi-
ages, which occurred much more frequently
cient to account for more than a small portion
than anticipated, subsequent to the Starfish
of the periods of spacecraft malfunction.
event, cannot be determined with any degree
This is demonstrated in table 4-4 and the
of certainty. It can only be assumed that
profile of spacecraft performance given in
these were caused by a combination of solar
Appendix B.
cell degeneration, caused by excessive radi-
ation, and excessive current drain resulting In table 4-4, the undegraded power be-
from degeneration in circuit performance in tween the flight aspect limits of approxi-
the various subsystems. Irradiation cer- mately 45 ° and 135 ° is presented along with
tainly produced a significant degrading effect the spacecraft and battery charge power
upon the solar array, since it had been de- requirements.
signed for stability only in a low energy, low It can be seen that 65 to 80 percent de-
flux radiation environment. However, two gradation of the solar array would be re-
unfortunate circumstances combined to lead quired in order for it to be incapable of
to a conclusion, which perhaps was drawn too sustaining the normal spacecraft during full
quickly, that the solar array had degraded to sunlight orbits where no battery charging is
the point where it was inadequate to power required, and, also, that this degradation is
the spacecraft. These circumstances were too large to permit any extended continuous
(1) because of design restrictions, no per- operation during eclipse orbits where battery
formance parameters for monitoring the charging is required in addition to the space-
power system were included in the satellite, craft requirements.
and (2) although radiation effects on solar
Several features of the Ariel I solar array
cells were well known, effects on other space-
were novel in satellite application. This
craft components, particularly semiconduc-
solar array was the first satellite power sup-
tors, were relatively unknown. Since in-
ply in which:
formation on solar cells was available, it was
easy to assume that solar cell degradation a. Flat-mounted (as opposed to shingled)
was the complete answer to the spacecraft solar cells were used.
malfunction. b. Series-parallel redundance (complete

TABLE 4 4.
Solar Array Power, Loads, and Degradation

Aspect Spacecraft Spacecraft


(Sun line to Undegraded Battery alone
spin axis Output Eclipse (100% sun-
angle) Orbit) light)

Allow- Allow-
able able
Angle Power Power Degra- Power Degra-
(Degrees) (Watts) (Watts) dation (Watts) dation
(%) (%)

45 16.0 10.8 32.5 5.4 66.3


90 26.5 10.8 59.3 5.4 79.6
135 18.75 10.8 42.5 5.4 71.2

94
SATELLITE STRUCT URE AND SUBSYSTEMS

redundancy within each cell group) be- its original design characteristics. Its suc-
tween solar cells were used. cessful operation provided rigorous proof of
c. Shallow-diffused ("blue," "blue-shift- some design techniques and material.
ed" )gridded solar cells were used. The undervoltage detector and its associ-
d. Silicone base bonding materials for both ated recycle timer were thoroughly proven by
solar cells and cover glasses were used. the frequent undervoltage conditions. These
Each of these features was a significant circuits, originally designed to operate only
development in reliability and/or efficiency in an emergency, have operated reliably for
for solar arrays. Each has become standard more than 250 cycles at the time of this
practice and is used in the design of almost all analysis.
solar arrays.
ORBITAL INJECTION PROGRAMMER
Power System Performance F.C. Yagerhofer
J. Schaffert
The power system performed satisfactorily
throughout the useful life of the satellite. The orbital injection programmer was a
Unfortunately, because of the limitations of battery-operated electronic timing system.
spacecraft design, there were not enough Its function was to program the events as-
power system housekeeping data, such as in- sociated with the ignition and selSaration of
ternal and external battery temperatures and the third stage. The functional block dia-
voltage and current measurements, to make a gram of figure 4-30 illustrates the operation
detailed analysis of performance throughout of the programmer with respect to these
the life of the satellite. However, the fact events. At the time of third-stage motor
that the spacecraft transmitted intelligible ignition (to), two pressure switches provided
scientific data intermittently over a period of signals to start a 900-second timer. At the
approximately two and one-half years is end of this timing period two pulses were
reasonable proof of satisfactory operation. applied to the silicon-controlled rectifier cir-
In summary, it is felt that the power sys- cuit, which in turn fired one pair of squibs.
tem operated satisfactorily, well in excess of This time is designated tl. The tl output from

3ROSTAGEMON,,ORIToJ
9® I-J SECOND SECOND SECOND
IGNITION PRESSURE _ SECOND
TIMER NO.1 TIMER NO, 2 TIMER NO. 3

pW,TCHES' I I T'MERII I

DESPIN I

t o - 3RD STAGE MOTOR IGNITION

t 1 - t o 900 SEC

BOOM
t 2 - t O 960 SEC
RELEASE

t 3 - t O 1020 SEC

t 4 - t o 1080 SEC

T3
SC RELEASE

SEPERATION ]

FIGURE 4-30. Orbital injection functional block diagram.

95
A R I E L I: T H E F I R S T I N T E R N A T I O N A L S A T E L L I T E

the 900-second timer started a 60-second


timer. At intervals of 60 seconds from time
tl, pulses were provided to the silicon-con-
trolled rectifier circuit t o fire three additional
pairs of squibs. The times of these firings
are designated t.), t, and t,.
The orbital injection programmer was
redundant throughout, including two sepa-
rate batteries. Thus, failure of either pro-
grammer could not prevent the squib firing
sequence from being completed. Accuracy
of the timing cycles was five percent or better.
The events a t the squib firing times were:
de-spin (t,), boom release (t-), paddle re-
lease (tli),and separation (t4).
The orbital injection programmer circuits
were packaged on three separate printed cir-
cuit modules of medium density packaging.
These modules are shown in figure 4-31.
Although the deployment events did not
occur with proper timing, all available evi-
dence indicates that this was caused by
mechanical failure of tie-downs rather than
the programmer. An analysis of the de-spin
profiles indicates that the squibs did, in fact,
fire a t the proper times.
Despite the fact that this device was de-
signed and fabricated on a crash basis as a n
electronic replacement for an inadequate
mechanical timer, its performance proved the
reliability of the design.

(6) 6 0 - S E C O N D TIMER
(C\ 930-SECOND TIMER

FIGURE
4-31. Orbital injection programmer.

I 96
CHAPTER 5

Tracking and Data Acquisition


The Ariel International Ionosphere Satel- launch date of April 26, 1962, Ariel I should
lite was launched from Cape Canaveral, lift-off between 17 hours 48 minutes U.T.
Florida, by a Thor-Delta vehicle and was and 18 hours 57 minutes U.T.
placed into a near-earth elliptical orbit having Ariel I lifted off the pad at approximately
an apogee of 1214 kilometers (754 statute 1800 hours U.T. on April 26, 1962.
miles, 655 nautical miles), a perigee of 390
kilometers (242 statute miles, 210 nautical The Orbit
miles), an inclination of 55 degrees, and an The Data Systems Division, in addition,
anomalistic period of 99 minutes. (On board was responsible for determining the orbit,
the satellite is a single PFM-PM telemeter supplying the tracking stations with predic-
with a power output of 250 milliwatts. This tions, and furnishing the experimenters Re-
telemetry system was used by the STADAN fined World Maps. Graphs of some of the
network for tracking and data acquisition.) orbital elements of Ariel I are given in Ap-
pendix B. A comparison of nominal and
THE LAUNCH WINDOW
actual orbit parameters follows:
The Theory and Analysis Office of the Nominal Actual
Data Systems Division was responsible for
computing the Launch Window for the Ariel Apogee 1027 Km. 1214 Km.
I satellite. The constraints governing the (638 S.M.) (754 S.M.)
launch window were as follows: Perigee 370 Km. 390 Km.
1. The spin axis sun line angle vary (230 S.M.) (242 S. M.)
from 40 degrees to 140 degrees. Inclination 55 Deg. 55 Deg.
2. The initial spin axis sun line angle to Period 99 Min. 99 Min.
be less than 90 degrees and then
increase with time. Tracking
3. Launch time be such that the time the Tracking Ariel I was the sole responsibility
satellite will be in the sunlight is a of the Space Tracking and Data Acquisition
" a,,_-;._,. ÷h,_ ,_.*.ly llfo_ Network (STADAN) during the active life-
time of the satellite. time of the satellite. During the launch and
4. Lifetime of the satellite to be one early orbit phase, additional tracking was
year. obtained from the Cape Canaveral doppler
Based on a nominal trajectory supplied by tracking station, NORAD, U.S. Naval Space
the Douglas Aircraft Company extensive Surveillance System, and the SAO Baker-
computer runs were made to determine the Nunn Network. Sufficient tracking data were
launch windows. The launch window cal- obtained from the 136.410 Mc/s telemetry
culations determined that for the actual transmitted to accurately compute and con-

97
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

tinually update the orbit. A total of 3372 shown, those periods during which the satel-
tracking messages were received during the lite was tracked and data acquired can be
active lifetime of the satellite. The following determined.
STADAN stations were responsible for
tracking the Ariel I spacecraft. Data Acquisition
Antofagasta, Chile, S.A.* The Ariel I spacecraft utilized a PFM/PM
Blossom Point, Md., U.S.A. telemetry system operating at 136.410 Mc/s
Lima, Peru, S.A. and a power output of 250 milliwatts. In
Quito, Ecuador, S.A. this system, the analog or digital measure-
Johannesburg, South Africa ment data from a given experiment fre-
Woomera, Australia quency-modulated a subcarrier oscillator.
Fort Myers, Fla., U.S.A. This subcarrier oscillator phase-modulated
St. Johns, Newfoundland the rf carrier ±50 degrees. The subcarrier
East Grand Forks, Minnesota, U.S.A. oscillators operated in the 5 to 15 Kc. range.
Winkfield, England Upon command from the ground, playback
These stations are shown on the map of data from an on-board tape recorder were
Figure 5-1. The circles around each sta- transmitted at a speed of 48 times the record-
tion indicate the approximate effective area ing rate. These data were normally obtained
covered by each station. Thus if a given near the point of closest approach to the re-
orbit path is superimposed on the map as ceiving station. Signal levels obtained at the
STADAN stations ranged roughly between
*This station was relieved of operation in August,
1963.
--80 dbm and --145 dbm with the average

150 120 90 60 30 0 30 60 90 120 150 180

75

6O

3O

3O

6O

150 180
150 120 9O 60 30 0 30 60 90 120

FIGURE 5-1. Tracking station locatiohs and areas of effectiveness.

98
TRACKING AND DATA ACQUISITION

about --100 dbm. Very little difficulty was Frequency :


experienced in obtaining usable data at the Receiver A--136.410 Mc/s.
stations. Those STADAN stations respon- Receiver B--136.410 Mc/s.
sible for tracking were also responsible for Inputs :
the acquisition of telemetered data from the Receiver A--output of vertically
spacecraft. In addition, the two British polarized antenna system
operated DSIR stations, one located in the Receiver B--output of horizontally
South Atlantic area and the other at Singa- polarized antenna system
pore, were also responsible for data acquisi- Operation---AGC mode
tion from the Ariel I spacecraft. A block Bandwidth (2nd I.F.)--100 kc
diagram of the telemetry acquisition system Output Converter--62 kc center
used at the STADAN stations is shown in frequency
figure 5-2. The following system parame- Output Converter--Oscillator-
ters were utilized: 3.312 Mc/s. ±20 cps.
, Tracking filter
1. Antenna polarization--linear
Input--62 kc output of Mod. I re-
2. Dual channel preamplifiers--136.500 ceiver having highest signal level
Mc/s. AGC--slow (changed to slow to elim-
inate keystoning effect with fast
3. Mod. I telemetry receivers AGC)

2nd IF AGC PM III J AMPEX


BW - I00 kc CIRCUIT

AMPLIFIER
RECORD TAPE
] MAGNETIC
OUTPUT RECORDER
CONVERTER
62 kc DIRECT #3
RECORD
AMPLIFIER

DIRECT 15
RECORD
AMPLIFIER

OUTPUT
CONVERTER
MONITOR
62 kc I INPUT- OUTPUT ]
136.410 Mc

3rd IF 2nd IF
BW - 100 kc DIRECT #4
BW - 0 kc RECORD
AMPLIFIER

WWV
RECEIVER MINITRACK
TIME
STANDARD
RACK

SERIAL TIME 4 J PWM 16 J

AMPLIFIER
RECORD J
DETECTED COMMAND TONE

DIRECT 17
AUDIO
RECORD
TRANSMITTER DETECTOR AMPLIFIER
I COMMAND [_ CRYSTAL AMPLIFIER

j_) VOICE
MIKE

FIGURE 5--2. Data acquisition system functional block diagram.

99
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Phase modulation output--detected Standard frequency--10 kc


5-15 kc Time--Serial and binary coded time
Tracking loop bandwidth--Not less Precision clock drive--60 cps
than 25 cps . Magnetic tape recorder track assign-
. Minitrack timing signals ments--see table below:

Record
Track Amplifier Source Signal

AGC Circuit AGC


2 Direct Control Track Generator 60 cps, 70% AM
and on 18.24 kc carrier
Data Input (Minitrack) BCD Time
3 Direct PM Output of Tracking 5-15 kc dected
Filter signal
4 Direct Minitrack 10 kc standard
5 Direct WWV Receiver WWV time
6 FM Minitrack Serial coded time
7 Direct Audio Amplifier Voice and command
tone

7. Magnetic tape recorder tape speeds after and playback commands were stopped
FR-600--15 in/sec. at all stations except Blossom Point and East
FR-100--71/,_ in/sec. Grand Forks on August 18, 1962. After it
The spacecraft operated normally after was determined that no playback data were
launch for a period of about three months. being received, all stations were relieved of
As much real-time data as possible was being command responsibility on September 8,
recorded according to station availability and 1962. Throughout the duration of the satel-
the spacecraft priority schedule. With the lite life, operation was intermittent until all
exception of about one orbit per day, the re- tracking, command, and data acquisition
quirement for playback data once/orbit was support was temporarily dropped on July 1,
achieved. This represents roughly 93% suc- 1964. Ariel I support was again resumed on
cess in obtaining playback data. August 26, 1964 after the launch of the IE-A
On July 12, 1962, the satellite turned off be- (1964-51A) spacecraft on August 25, 1964.
cause of a malfunction in the spacecraft. For two months, Ariel I and IE-A recorded
This resulted from degradation of the solar similar data until all support was finally
cells and other semiconductors by high energy terminated on November 9, 1964 at the re-
electrons in the artificial radiation belt pro- quest of the Ariel I Project Office.
duced prior to this date. Since that time, During the active life of the spacecraft, a
intermittent turn-offs were observed reducing total of 11,910 tapes were received from the
the amount of data acquired per unit time to STADAN, South Atlantic, and Singapore
one-third of that expected. The tape re- stations representing over 2000 hours of real-
corder system ceased operation shortly there- time telemetry data.

100
CHAPTER 6

Data Processing
Processing of Ariel I data consisted of six design and writing of digitizing and quality
major steps, as shown in figure 6-1. Of control programs and the management of the
these six, the first three were the responsi- GSFC data processing system were done by
bility of the Data Systems Division of the the Data Processing Branch.
Goddard Space Flight Center, and the second In the U.K. the initial computer operations
three were performed by various groups were centralized under the Space Research
within the United Kingdom. Management Unit (SRMU). The Space
The sharing of responsibility between Department of the Royal Aircraft Establish-
GSFC, for digitizing, and the U.K. for digital ment (RAE) undertook the preparation of
computer reductions and analysis, imposed a the main computer programs.
new set of difficulties on an art not then well
developed. Specifically, a close coordination NASA/GSFC PROCESSING
between the digitizing and subsequent proc- C. M. Stout
esses was sought. Since, in this case, the two C. J. Creveling
stages would be separated by 4000 miles, ex-
Collection,
Collationand Evaluation of
ceptional care was exercised to insure that
Analog Tapes
the digitized tapes shipped to England were
correct. Although this was costly, in prac- Inputsto data processingconsistedof mag-
tice it worked very well and the data were netictapes of the detectedtelemetry signal
reduced with very little reprocessing. The from STADAN, South Atlanticand Singa-

NASAIGSFC UNITED KINGDOM

COLLATE &
ANALOG
TAPES
QUALITY
INDEX TO
1coNveRT
1i DATA
CORRELATION
EVALUATE TO DIGITAL PRODUCE _" EXPERIMENT ANO
ANALOG BUFFER DELIVERABLE ANALYSIS
TAPES TAPES TAPES J i Ei_ M MUTATI: J_ !OIGTIN EER I N G_

FIGURE 6--1. Major steps in the data processing procedure.

101
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

pore stations. These stations were at the fol- Winkfield, England


lowing locations : Singapore
Antofogasta, Chile South Atlantic
Blossom Point, Maryland The format for telemetry tapes was set
Lima, Peru forth in Operations Manuals of Plan 2-62 for
Quito, Ecuador the Minitrack Stations. The tapes consisted
Santiago, Chile of 1/2 inch 11/.2 mil thick analog (or instru-
Johannesburg, South Africa mentation) tape 2400 feet long on which the
Woomera, Australia recorded signals are multichannel recorded
Fort Myers, Florida simultaneously on seven tracks in accordance
St. Johns, Newfoundland with IRIG standards.
East Grand Forks, Minnesota The track allocations were as follows:

Type of
Track Recording Track Content

FM Automatic gain control


Direct Combined servocontrol and binary coded decimal
time
Direct Telemetry data signal demodulated from carrier
Direct Reference 10kc standard frequency
Direct Time from WWV radio signal
PWM Serial Coded Time
Direct Voice, command tones

Magnetic tape recorder speeds depended upon From these cards a periodic listing (figure
the type recorder available at the ground 6-2), which was updated to account for all
data acquisition station, being generally at tapes received, was generated. Most analog
71/_ inches per second (Ampex FR 600; the tapes contained multiple passes, resulting in
Ampex FR-100 recording at 15 in/sec). multiple cards per tape. Separate cards
Upon arrival from tracking stations tapes were also prepared for the low-speed data
were logged into a tape library and a punched (i.e. satellite tape recorded data) which were
card prepared for each file. (A file is defined recorded on the same tape as the high speed
as a satellite pass over a given station.) data. As each file completed the various

TAPE DATE PASS INTERNATIONAL START STOP MIN DATE DATE CARD
SAT STA NO YR/MO/DA NO CODE TIME TIME DATA REC'D QUAL EVAL NO.
$51 GFO 0001 620426 0001 62 15 193315 194915 011 20430 AI 20503 I
- $51- MOJ - 0001 -- 620426 -- 0001 -- 62 _ 15 -- --193317-194646-010- 20427--BI--20428 I--
- 551- BPO - 0001 _ 620426 -- 0001 --62 -- 15 -- --193914-195143-008- 20427--C2--20427--2--
- $51- FTM -0001 -- 620426 --0001 --62 _ 15--1 --194348-195530-012-20427--C2--20427--I--
--551- LIM -0001 -- 620426 --0001 --62 -- 15--: --195304-200157-009-20509 I--
- S51-AGA- 0001 -- 620426 -- 0001 --62 -- 15 --' --200146-200740-006- 20508--AI--20510 --I --
_$51- JOB -0001 -- 620426 -- 0001 --62 _ 15 --' --202155-2031_0--009-20430 I
--S51-SNP -0001-- 620426 000f--62 --15 --' --203610-210010 -024-20501 -- ./..,,_0428 1 --
_-,,,_l-MOJ_I33--_2_26--0002--_2 --15 --' -211_-_'_oQ-015-20426"_ " "_ 2_
'I 5 --_nq0 _

FIGURE 6-2. Typical periodic listing of tapes received.

102
DATA PROCESSING

stages of the processing cycle, the dates of Network Operations and Engineering Divi-
same were punched in the card, providing a sion. However, if gross discrepancies were
consolidated input for accounting purposes. discovered, this information was relayed the
A representative sample of the analog same day to pertinent personnel within that
tapes was evaluated for quality of ground division.
station data acquisition and recording tech-
nique, quality of signal, determination of low- Analog-To-Digital Conversion
speed and high-speed encoded telemetry re-
cordings, and the presence o£ time and com- Conversion from analog to digital tapes
mand tones. A total of 56 percent of the was accomplished by means of the Satellite
tapes received were evaluated. The tape Telemetry Automatic Reduction System
evaluation process consisted of the following (STARS). This equipment and its develop-
major steps : ment are described in detail in this chapter
1. A check as to whether or not each of under "Data Processing Equipment Develop-
the tape tracks contained the proper informa- ment." It utilized the following functional
tion and to see that the station logs accom- elements :
panying each tape were properly prepared. analog tape unit,
2. Paper recordings of the three time time decoder,
tracks (i.e. Binary Coded Time (BCD), tone-burst signal converter,
Serial Decimal Time (SDR), and WWV) comb filter,
were compared for consistency and accuracy. digitizer,
3. The PFM data as displayed on an computer format control buffer, and
oscilloscope were observed. digital tape unit.
The analog tape unit played back the signal
4. Paper recordings were made of the
in the same form and without distortion as
AGC level.
recorded. The time decoder decoded either
Where anomalies existed an attempt was the serial decimal (SD) or binary coded deci-
made to determine the cause, or at least deter- mal (BCD) time and provided the correct
mine whether or not they were caused by time to the computer format control buffer
improper operation of ground equipment. coincident with frame synch recognition.
Since the aim of the tape evaluation oper- The comb filter is a sharp, narrow-band fre-
ation was to ensure proper station telemetry quency separator that resolves frequencies
data acquisition and recording and to prevent from 4.5 kc to 15.4 kc in about 100 cps steps.
repetitive or continuing errors, rapid re- A later model operating at 4x speed covered
sponse was desirable. On the other hand, 20 to 60 kc in 400 cps steps. The comb filter
since chronological processing of data was has 128 tuned crystal filters spaced across the
required by the experimenter, a time lag to used frequency band. Each filter element
permit the incoming tapes from various sta- drives a threshold detector and trigger cir-
tions to be assembled in near chronological cuit. During the time interval when a tone
order was needed. The scheduling proce- burst is applied to the filter bank, one of the
dure, shown in block diagram form in figure threshold detectors is activated and the in-
6-3, shows how this problem was resolved formation is nro.s_nt_d tn _;lh_q,,_n+ ,t;,._
with tape evaluation being performed on a tizingequipment. The digitizer transfers the
two-day cycle with digitization of the tapes digital value of each comb filter to the com-
awaiting three weeks' and one week's worth puter format control buffer where a sequence
being processed on a sustained basis. "Quick starting with digitized time and followed by
look" tapes, on the other hand, were processed digitized data are stored in the memory unit
on an expressline basis. until unloaded, a record at a time, onto a
Reports summarizing the results of the digital tape in accordance with the buffer's
tape evaluation were submitted weekly to the controls. The relationship of the STARS

103
ARIEL I." THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

line to the total processing system is illus- permitting a speedup of 4 to 1. Data re-
trated in figure 6-4. corded at 71/2 inches per second could thus be
The initial equipment for digitizing Ariel played back at 30 inches per second, permit-
I data was eventually supplemented, and ting an increased efficiency in the automated
finally supplanted, by the introduction of high digitizing operation. Operation at the 4x
speed equipment using a comb filter capable rate was found to be equal to and, in some
of operation between 20 kc and 60 kc, thus respects, superior to operation at lx rate as

NORMAL PROCESSING OF AERIAL I TAPES

ANALOG TAPES
FROM STATIO NS
TO DATA REDUCTION
BRANCH (DRB)

/
1 COPY FILE-P.O. J
1 COPY TO UK
J
J,
_ 2 COPIES TO
_ OF TAPE INDEX
WEEKLY RECEIVED (P.O.)
PROJECT OFFICE

EVALUATION OF
ANALOG
WITHIN
TAPE
2 DAYS
J
EVALUATIO N LOG COPY TO [
OF RECEIPT OF __ ANALOG TAPE FI P.O. FILE
TAPE-QUALITY
CONTROL

J.
21-25 DAYS LAG
TO ALLOW ASSEMBLY
OF TAPES IN A NEAR
C HRO NOLOGICAL
ORDER 1 COPY TO U.K.
2 COPIES TO P.O.

INDEX-1 PER WEEK


1 J I
1 COPY FILE

___ DIGITAL TAPE LIBRARY I


PROCESS ONE WEEK OF
ANALOG TAPES AS
A GROUP TO PRODUCE
A DIGITAL BUFFER
TAPE
O,G,TAL
ED,T
L,STING-
TABULATIONI OF ERRORSJ

AND DISCREPANCIES J

MAKE U.K. DIGITAL


FILE
ONE COPY TO P.O. I
TAPE WITH DISCREPANCIES
I USE BUFFER TAPE TO
FLAGGED

TAPE AT
D_
WITH
ONE
TAPE
U.K.
COPY
DIGITAL
TO U.K. I ORBIT TAPES
STORE BUFFER k I REFINED ORBIT
PARAMETERS
PRODUCED 2 WEEKS

AFTER EVENT. SENT


J TO
SENDPROJECT
DIGITAL OFFICE
TAPE
TO PROJECT OFFICE

J LISTING TO DIGITAL
TAPES AND U.K. I
J,
J U.K. PROCESS 1 "q"E °"BAcK
°ON I"EcTs
°P
J EXPERIMENTERS
DATA TO I
FIGURE 6--3. Data processing scheduling procedure.

104
DATA PROCESSING

ANALOG ANALOG TO DIGITAL


TAPES CONVERSION

A
To be processed by
Analog Tape Unit

t(-11 co+ _'


i IC _ I

(e)l ,q
,-- BUFEER--JI

Tapes

Acceptable
for Re-run

Tapes
*NALOG
I T,ME
TAPE

UNIT
I DECODER

LINE #1

Tapesfor
0,O ,
TAPE

UNIT
I

I
I
]
i i BUFFER QUALITY
Re-run 1"
_. )_ TAPE CONTROL DATAFOR
READY
SHIPMENT

\ _ 1 ED,T
AND
\ REFORMAT OFFICE

_ _ PROJECT

VISUAL

Rejects

\
' \

\\ Buffer Tapes
\lj /
v i+1

1
_
STAGE

E_
G _

+ca
PRINTOUT
AND
OE
1401

C.EC_S
__Do
M

,, TaT,or//
, ,
or Unacceptable
/.. _
r

/
/

Partially Acceptable _ _ /

Unacceptable Tapes to
Buffer Topes o/ /
be Erased, Data to b

Acceptable Tapes /
4C

( • I COMB ( 4 .
v FILTER

1C
( • } COMB ( • ]
v FILTER BUFFER _ mml

s-s_
ANALOG -- DIG

TAPE TIME TAPE Unacceptable Tapes to be Erased,


UNiT DECODER UNIT J Data to be Reprocessed by Analog

j Digital Conversion

LiNE '2 i

.................... j

FzGURE 6-4. Ariel I GSFC data processing system, functional diagram.

105
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

evidenced by the amount of time inconsisten- one pass of the analog tape and then the low-
cies and percentage of bad data points. The speed data processed in a second playback of
higher speed operation, initiated in January the tape. A 10:1 ratio of data compression
1964, facilitated the rapid reduction of a large was effected during the analog to digital con-
backlog of unprocessed tapes to a normal version process, i.e. approximately ten times
level. as much PFM data were stored on a given
Each pass or file on an analog tape was area of digital tape as compared to analog
recorded as a separate entity on the digital tape. This does not take into account the
tape, with each file being preceded by an supplementary information i.e. AGC, 10 kc
identification record and terminated by an linearizing frequency and voice, which is re-
end of file record. Different formats were corded on the analog tape but is not recorded
used for the high-speed and low-speed data. on the digital tape. By virtue of the com-
Moreover, the high-speed and low-speed data pression permitted by the digital recording
were recorded on separate digital tapes. process, multiple analog tapes were recorded
This was done in a two step operation, where- on a single digital tape.
in all high-speed data files were processed in The output of the STARS line consisted of

A= I. D. NUMBER
B= ORBIT NUMBER
C= EDIT TAPE NUMBER
D= NUMBER OF FILES
E= PLAYBACK SPEED A=HI B=LO
F= DIGITAL START TIME
G= DIGITAL STOP TIME
H= BUFFERLINE (O-A-B)
I -- BUFFER TAPE NUMBER
J = DATE DIGITIZED
K = OPERATOR CODE
L = TAPE RECORDER TIME CODE
M= EDIT DATE
N=P IF PRINTED BLANK IF NOT PRINTED
O= PRINT DATE
P = ERASE DATE
Q=CARD NUMBER

A B C DE F G H J K L M N
516211601001 0 2 48A180409 180653A 5 20516 BG 20602
516211618001 0 2 48A185600 190519A 5 20516 BG 20602
516211614001 I 2 48A193722 194809A 5 20516 BG 20602
516211603001 I 2 48A 194804 195435A 5 20517 BG 20602
516211606001 I 2 48AI 95547 200024A 5 20517 BG 20602
516211607001 I 2 48A200319 200703A 5 20517 BG 20602
516211616001 I 2 48A202342 203 I07A 5 20517 BG 20602
5 20517 _G
5 2O5

FIGURE 6--5. High-speed edit listing.

106
DATA PROCESSING
digital magnetictapesin IBM binary coded 2. All digital tapes were in standard IBM
decimalformatsuitablefor further automatic binary coded decimal (BCD) format, using
data processing. The tapes were one-half even parity, and written at 200 bits/inch.
inch wide by 1.5mils thick by 2400feet long 3. All tapes were checked for time con-
and were stored on ten-inch reels. They sistency, the inconsistencies being appropri-
were seven-tracktapes in accordancewith ately flagged. A summary of the number of
IBM standardsfor alpha-numericcode. Dig- time inconsistencies and data word dropouts
itized sensordata (analog)were encodedin was prepared as an on-line listing and sup-
termsof numbersbetweenzeroand128,and plied with each tape.
digital data as sequences of numbersusing 4. The first record in each file constituted
the digits zerothrough seven. an identification record, and the number of
files on a tape was counted. Figure 6-5 is an
DigitalOperations example of the high-speed edit showing the
Themagnetictapeoutputsfrom theSTARS number of files on an edit tape listing.
line wereusedasbuffertapesto producefinal Figure 6-6 is an example of the low-speed
tapes for delivery to the United Kingdom encoder file listing.
with the followingcharacteristics: The manner in which the data were regi-
1. All digital tapesweredividedinto two mented on the tapes is apparent in the follow-
categories: a) high-speed encoding and b) ing definitions.
low-speed encoding. File--A file constituted data received from

A= I.D. NUMBER
B= ORBIT NUMBER
C= EDIT TAPE NUMBER
D= NUMBER OF FILES
E= PLAYBACK SPEED
F= DIGITAL START TIME
G= DIGITAL STOP TIME
H= BUFFER LINE (O-A-B)
I = BUFFER TAPE NUMBER
J = DATE DIGITIZED
K= OPERATOR CODE
L = TAPE RECORDER TIME
M= EDIT DATE
N=P IF PRINTED BLANK IF NOT PRINTED
O= PRINT DATE
P = ERASE DATE
Q = CARD NUMBER

A B C DE F G H I J K L M N /
516211701001 10 I 39BI02833 I03038A 7 20529 EG 20518 /
516211712001 10 I 39BI02838 I03030 A 6 20529 GG 20518 Ix
516211803010 20 I 39B042503 042708A 8 20529 EG 20521
516211803011 21 I 39B06090B 051117A 8 20529 EG 20521 x_
516211814005 28 .. I 39B 170052 170252A 9 ^20529 GG 20521 /
,ou,uvj . - 39B ! 8_;202 ]Q_An_ a 9 f)529
- ........ ,-/'% 2o521

FIGURE6--6. Low-speed edit listing.

107
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

a single pass over a telemetry station and zeros, analog sensor data by any number
corresponded therefore to the data from one from 001 to 128.
analog tape recorded at that station. An The digital tapes obtained from the STARS
end-of-file mark was used to separate succes- line conversion were fed directly into an IBM
sive files. These marks were an unwritten 1401 computer. The purpose of the initial
gap of 31/2 to 8 inches in length followed by stage of computer processing was to edit and
a bit in the 8, 4, 2 and 1, tracks of the alpha- quality check the data to determine that the
numeric code (i.e. CBA8421). The tape STARS line equipment was functioning prop-
mark was followed immediately by a longi- erly and to flag time and data inconsistencies.
tudinal even parity check character. Printouts of such discrepancies, together with
Record--A record consisted of a number of summary information printed at the end of
characters separated by an unwritten inter- processing each file of data, provided the basis
val (inter-record gap) of 3/I, inch. A high- for either passing or rejecting the file. In
speed encoded record consisted of 976 char- the latter case the file was usually re-processed
acters. The low-speed encoder record con- through the STARS line.
sisted of 872 characters. Identification rec- Some of the checks made by the computer
ords constituted the first record of each file. were as follows :
The identification record consisted of a 12- a. Correct file identification--Each file
character word (ID word) repeated as many identification was printed on the operator's
times as was necessary to fill up the record. console display for verification.
The format of the ID word was as follows : b. Correct frame time intervals--If the

Day Count Tape time per frame was not within a prescribed
interval of time, the frame was denoted by
Satellite Year of Year Station Number
an asterisk. This normally occurred as a
XX XX XXX XX XXX
result of data dropouts of one or more frames
If an end-of-file mark occurred at the end of of data during the STARS line processing.
the ID record, this meant that the ID record c. Incorrect time--An example would be
was incorrect, the next succeeding record backward time where the time for a followin_
being the corrected ID record. frame was less than the preceding frame.
Frame--A frame consisted of a sequence of Each occurrence of incorrect time data re-
sensed data between synchronization pulses. sulted in a printout.
A high-speed frame consisted of 16 data d. Illegal data characters--Numbers out-
words corresponding to 16 bursts; the low- side the acceptable range. For analog trans-
speed frame consisted of 16 bursts and six- ducer data channels, the acceptable range was
teen blanks or 32 data words. In both types 000-119, whereas for digital transducer
of frames a time word appeared immediately data channels only eight discrete values were
following the first burst (i.e. the synchroniza- acceptable. Also included in this check were
tion burst) of that frame. This time word data channels with a unique code indicating
was used for computer check of time incon- that none of the comb fingers reached its
sistencies. threshold. Information printed at the end of
Word--Words were divided into two types: each file was as follows: the file indentifica-
a) time words and b) data words. Time tion, the station start and stop recording
words consisted of 12 BCD characters, the time, the amount of missing time as calcu-
first character containing a bit in at least the lated from the time gaps, the number of bad
8 and 4 track (i.e. CBA 8421=001100). or missing data points, the number of frames,
Data words consisted of 3 BCD characters and the percentage of data recovered from
representing the burst frequency quantized the file.
by filters in the comb filter. Digital sensor The output from the initial computer
data words appeared with numerals zero thru processing operation was an edited tape re-
seven as the first character followed by two corded in a prescribed format and containing

108
DATA PROCESSING

all the information that was contained on the 80 tapes of orbital position were sent to the
digital tape obtained from the STARS line. U.K.
In addition, the edit tape contained the flags
indicating time drop outs, incorrect time, and
Quality Control
incorrect or missing data. The edit tapes,
together with the related punch cards, were Two types of quality control were insti-
sent to the U.K. for further processing. The tuted for Ariel I data. The first was per-
edit tape was recorded in an IBM compatible formed automatically by the edit computer
tape format in order to permit direct input (IBM 1401) as outlined above. The second
to the IBM 1401 computer used for the first was performed by visual examination of
stage computer processing in the U.K. In- sample printouts to assure the experimenters
formation contained on the Orbit tape con- that electronic equipment was not malfunc-
sisted basically of sub-satellite latitude and tioning.
longitude and height of satellite. This posi- The following special characters were em-
tion information was given at constant time ployed to indicate either data, time, or low-
intervals throughout each orbit. A total of speed anomalies :

Purpose Character Print Bit Sequence

Data Dropout Dash 0100000


Improper Time Advance Asterisk 0101100
Proper Time Advance Dot 0111011
Low-Speed Frame,
Sync. Pulse And & 0110000

Inconsistent frame time was determined by sions were then counted and the sum accumu-
comparing two successive frame times and lated for each file. The sum of data dropouts
determining the differences. For a burst was printed, along with the sum of time inter-
blank duration of 20 milliseconds (the nomi- vals inconsistent, in an on-line hard copy
nal burst blank period), the frequency would printout.
be 50 cps. During rf interference checkout The proper time advance was shown by the
of Ariel I it was found that this 50 cps signal presence of a dot, and the reco'gnition of low-
interfered with a 100 cps signal used for time speed frame, that is the presence of the com-
encoding. Therefore, the burst blank rate mand tone, was shown by the presence of an
was changed to 55 cps. This change, in turn, ampersand. Examples of printouts of mag-
shortened the burst blank duration to 18.2 netic tape representing both high-and-low
milliseconds, and made the frame consisting speed encoded data are shown in figures 6-7
of 16 burst blank sequences 291 milliseconds and 6-8 respectively.
in ...... ,:^_ "-o+_a _¢ _h, nominal 320 milli- Upon completion of the automated editing
seconds. Accordingly the quality control operation, the computer printed out '" - _^1 bll_ iul-

program was altered to compare the succes- lowing:


sire time frames to 291_+20 milliseconds. If 1. Label or identification word
the difference fell outside this range, an aster- 2. Start time
isk character was inserted at the end of the 3. End time
frame. 4. Total time difference between start
Dropout data were determined by noting and end times
the occasions when three dash characters 5. Time lost or dropped out
appeared in a sequence of data. These occa- 6. Percentage of time lost to total time

109
ARIEL I" THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Sotellite No.

' 1 2 Day of Year


5 Minitrack Station (Blossom Paint)

SIil Year
6 Data Rece|ved

Identification Label _ 5 1 6 2 1 7 7 0 12 3 8

Z TIME I CHANNEL NO.


FRAME
DaylHr.M;n I Sec I I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
NO.

13 -07 1918 37.399 031 042 032 105 105 103 105 075 075 071 084 051 105 105 105 700 •
14 -07 1918 37.719 030 200 500 105 105 102 105 074 076 071 084 051 105 103 105 005 °
15 -07 1918 38.039 700 700 700 105 105 103 105 074 076 072 085 051 105 103 105 000 °
0 -07 1918 38.359 500 700 300 105 105 103 104 075 075 070 084 051 105 103 105 005 °
1 -07 1918 38.679 100 500 400 105 104 103 105 074 076 072 084 051 105 103 105 100 °
2 -07 1918 38.999 081 044 105 105 105 103 105 075 075 071 084 050 106 103 105 005 °
3 -07 1918 39.318 071 026 103 105 105 102 104 074 077 071 083 051 105 103 105 200 °
4 -07 1918 39.639 083 087 105 105 103 103 105 075 076 071 084 050 105 103 105 005 •
5 -07 1918 39.958 073 079 032 105 105 103 105 073 076 071 084 051 105 103 105 300 •
6 -07 1918 40.278 030 046 085 105 104 103 105 075 076 071 083 051 105 103 105 005 °
7 -07 1918 40.598 048 047 032 105 105 103 105 075 075 071 085 051 105 103 105 400 °
8 -07 1918 40.918 500 700 300 105 105 103 105 073 076 074 084 051 105 103 105 005 °
9 -07 1918 41.239 100 500 400 105 103 103 105 074 077 072 085 051 105 103 105 500 •
10 -07 1918 41.558 083 044 105 105 105 103 105 074 076 071 085 050 105 103 105 005 °
II -07 1918 41.878 071 054 103 105 104 103 105 074 077 071 084 051 105 103 105 600 *
12 -07 1918 42.198 085 072 105 105 105 103 105 076 075 071 085 051 105 103 105 005 •
13 -07 1918 42.518 032 043 032 IO5 105 103 105 075 075 072 083 050 105 103 105 700 •
14 -07 1918 42.838 031 500 300 105 105 103 105 074 076 071 083 050 105 103 105 005 •
15 -07 1918 43.158 700 700 700 105 105 103 105 073 076 071 084 050 105 103 105 000 •
0 -07 1918 43.478 700 700 300 105 104 078 105 074 077 071 084 050 105 081 105 005 •
1 -07 1918 43.798 100 600 400 105 105 083 105 074 077 071 085 051 105 087 105 100 •
2 -07 1918 44.118 086 045 050 094 092 065 101 075 077 071 085 051 105 068 103 005 °
3 -07 1918 44.438 072 081 074 041 093 071 103 075 077 071 085 050 105 075 102 200 •

Signifies playback of low speed recorded data

as a result of a station command.. 105_03 _ _00


I1 -07 1927 59.885 066 059 074 023 097 031 103 043 076 043 075 047 5 1 3 6 •
12 -07 1928 00.205 048 072 068 023 098 039 103 045 074 044 075 047 1051043 103 005

13 -07 1928 00.525 029 043 029 023 097 047 103 051 065 046 076 046 1051 051 103 700
14 -07 1928 00.844 036 400 700 025 097 054 103 047 ........................ •
15 -07 1928 01.169 ................................................ •
0 -07 1928 01.487 ................................................ °
1 -07 1928 01.805 ..........

2 -07 1930 20.348 045 045 105 105 104 103 105 043 075 065 085 041 107 103 105 005/

Indicates a tlmedrop-out.
(Frame 1 to 2)

FIGURE 6--7. Example of high-speed data printout.

7. Number of bad data points The results of the human inspection ol


8. Type of data (high- or low-speed) Ariel I processed data pointed out severa
9. Number of frames interesting problems. Equipment malfunc.
10. Tolerance with which time frames tion was not uncommon, generally appearin_
are compared in several forms. One was the apparent tim(

llO
DATA PROCESSING

S [ Year Data ReceiVed

/ 1[_ DTo_
¥_--;;;---r
5/9/6 I MinitrackStation
(Blossom
Point)

INITIAL
START
PLAYBACK
OF

COMMAND Identification Label , .


= 516217701238
i 7oo,o o
Satellite No.

TONE (ICT)

CHANNEL NO.
Z TIME

FRAME OaylHr.
M;.I Sec 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
NO.

_'_" *-07 1928 02".8_7 !

-07 1928 04.793 114011 114041 115070 115053 114075 114099 114011 114042 114074 115045 114105 115011 113053 113082 113083 114005 *
-07 1928 05.111 115011 114054 115095 114014 114099 114023 114011 114500 114600 114700 114700 114011 114071 115700 114500 115+++ •
0 -07 1928 05.432 113011 113034 114070 114054 115076 115101 115011 113052 114082 114045 115106 115011 114051 114081 113083 1140(_ •
-07 1928 05.750 115011 115047 114095 115014 114102 114023 114011 115200 115700 115700 115700 114011 114071 114700 115500 115+++ •
0 -07 1928 06.071 115011 114060 114070 113052 114075 114099 115011 115042 114075 114044 114106 115011 114054 114083 114083 114005 •
-07 1928 06.389 114011 114041 115093 115014 115099 114023 114011 113700 114700 114700 115700 115011 114071 114100 114600 114"++ *
0 -07 1928 06.709 115011 115053 114070 114053 114075 114101 115011 115053 115083 114045 114105 114011 114051 114086 115083 115005 °
-07 1928 07.028 114011 114034 114095 115014 115102 115036 114011 114400 113000 114000 114400 114011 114072 114100 115600 114+++ •
0 -07 1928 07.348 115011 114047 114071 114053 114075 114099 114011 114042 115074 115045 114106 114011 114055 114077 114083 114005 *
-07 1928 07.667 114011 114061 114091 114014 115099 114034 115011 114200 114100 114000 113400 115011 114072 115200 114600 115+++ •
0 -07 1928 07.987 114011 114041 114071 115054 115075 115101 114011 114053 114083 114045 115105 114011 114050 114081 114085 114005 *

-07 1928 08.305 115011 115053 114092 114014 114101 115030 114011 114600 114100 115000 114400 114011 114071 114400 115600 115÷*_" •
0 -07 1928 08.626 115011 114035 114071 114053 115076 114101 114011 114041 114072 114045 114107 115011 115050 114081 114083 114005 •
-07 1928 08.944 114011 115048 114090 115014 115099 114030 114011 114200 115200 114000 114400 114011 114071 114600 114600 115+++ •
0 -07 1928 09.265 114011 115060 114070 114053 113076 114101 114011 115047 114071 114044 114105 114011 114049 114079 115084 114005 •
-07 1928 09.583 114011 113040 114092 114014 115101 114035 114011 114600 114200 114000 114400 115011 114071 114700 114600 115+++ •
4=O -07 1928 09.904 115011 114053 115071 114053 114075 114101 115011 114045 115079 115045 114106 114011 113054 114081 115083 115005 •
115099 115032 115011 115200 114300 113000 114400 114011 115071 115000 114700 114++_ *
-07 1928_0.222 114011 115034 114091 115014
i : \
USED TO OBTAIN I REAL TIME Of LAST FRAME = RTLF = (ICT) - (FCT - ITLF) 48
APPROX TRUE FRAME TIME
RTLF = 19h28m02.867 s- (19h30m09.779 = - 19h30m09.667 = ) 48

= 19h28m02.867 , .5.376== 19h27m57.491s

2 APPROXIMATE REAL TIME OF .ll FRAME (ARTF,j) = (RTLF) - 48 (ITLF - ITF4=)

ARTF.i= = 19h27m57.491 - 48 (19h30m09.667 = - 19h28m09.904 = )

= 19h27m57.491 - 1h35m48.62 s = 17h52m08.9 = within 0.2%.

3 REAL TIME Of q. FRAME USING ARIEL CALIBRATION (CRTF4=) = ( RTLF - 15.3577 = ) x N

WHERE N = NUMBER OF FRAMES BACK FROM LAST FRAME TO 4= FRAME

CRTF = 19h27m57.491 s - 376 x 15.3577

= 19h27m57.491s . lh36m14.4955 = 17h51m42.996 $.

1 -07 !930 07.112 115011 114047 115093 113014 114101 114024 115011 114700 114300 114700 115200 114011 114071 114100 114300 115+++ •
0 -07 1930 07.433 114011 114061 114070 114053 115076 114101 115011 114044 114072 114045 115106 115011 114050 114078 114083 113005 •
1 -07 1930 07.751 115011 115041 115095 115014 114099 114023 113011 114600 114400 115700 115200 114011 114072 114500 115300 115+++ *
0 -07 1930 08.072 115011 115053 114069 114053 115076 114101 116011 114053 115082 114045 114105 115011 115059 115083 114085 114005 *
I -07 1930 08.390 114011 114035 115095 115014 115101 114024 114011 114600 115500 114700 115600 114011 114071 114000 114400 114¢+÷ *
0 -07 1930 08.710 115011 115047 114070 114053 114075 114101 114011 115042 114073 114045 114105 114011 114(_1 114061 115083 115005 •
1 -07 1930 09.028 114011 114061 113095 115014 115099 115024 114020 114600 114600 114700 113600 115011 114072 115100 114400 114+++ *
0 -07 1930 09.349 114011 114041 115070 115053 114075 114101 114011 115053 115083 115045 11411_ 113011 114060 114083 114085 115005 •
I L -07 1930 09._7 114020 114053 114095 114014 114--- 114.

_7 1930 09,779 _'_"FINAL COMMAND TONE (TRUE) (FTC) END OF PLAYBACK

TIME OF LAST FRAME (INDICATED) (ITLF)

FIGURE 6--8. Example of low-speed data printout.

discontinuity. Time errors were generally Data Processing Equipment Development


traced to either encoding errors at the station,
decoding errors at the digitizing station, or .......
Two major types o£ equ_pmem, ' .... '
were u_v_l-
inability of a shift register to respond rapidly oped for the processing of Ariel I Data: the
enough. Another frequent error discovered STARS lines, previously mentioned, and the
was the apparent absence of recognition of Ariel I test stands, which were used during
the command tone either at the beginning of integration and test of the satellite. The de-
a low-speed encoding sequence, at the end of velopment and successful operation of these
the low-speed encoding, or, occasionally, at equipments were not only essential to the
both beginning and end. success of the Ariel I project, but also served

111
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

well in the data processing, test and integra- were 10 millisecs in duration. The frequency
tion of subsequent spacecraft. was constant during the burst but could be
any frequency between 4.5 and 15 kc. A
frame of data was comprised of 16 bursts and
Design of the Ariel I Stars Line--H. H. Levy blanks with a frame sync pulse burst being
15 ms in duration with special frequencies in
Until the advent of the Ariel I project, only
the burst. The telemetry was sent in two
one STARS (Satellite Telemetry Automatic
different formats. One (hi-speed) contained
Reduction System) system had been designed
16 frames per sequence, the other (low-speed)
and put into operation (for the S-30, S-3,
contained 2 frames per sequence. The hi-
P-14, Vanguard 3 satellites). The Ariel I
speed was real-time data while the low-speed
satellite introduced several new requirements
was playback data from a tape recorder in the
for data processing and therefore the design satellite. In both formats there were analog
of its data processor departed from that of or octal channels in each frame of data. It
the first STARS in a number of ways. was decided that the processor could more
Format Description. The Ariel I format efficiently determine the octal or analog chan-
was made up of frequency bursts and blanks nels than the computer, so recognition of the
of data using PFM telemetry. The bursts frame sync, channel sync, frame sequence

IbJ TIME DECODER [

ANALOG
TAPE
DECK COMB FILTER
COMB
CONVERTER OUTPUT
FILTER
I PROCESSOR ]

4S ,_ l

RECOGNIZER
__ MODE

L
FRAME &
CHANNEL
CONTROL DIGITAL TAPE

©
COMPUTER
FORMAT
©
CONTROL
BUFFER
SYNCHRONIZER
J WORD

,L
FRAME
&
SYNC
LOCK
I SEARCH

FIGURE 6--9. STARS line functional block diagram.

112
DATA PROCESSING

number, and hi-speed or low-speed were de- cps bandwidth filters. One hundred and
signed into the processor. The low-speed twenty-eight filters were used to cover the
also had the blanks filled in with a reference data band of 5-15 kc plus guard bands above
frequency of 15.4 kc. This was digitized also and below the data band for special fre-
as a check on the speed of the satellite tape quencies. This allowed 1% resolution of the
recorder. The system used for processing data frequencies. The comb filter was rede-
the data is shown in figure 6-9. signed to cope with the low-speed data which
General Equipment Description. An im- had the blanks filled in with the reference
provement in this system over previous sys- frequency. It was necessary to split off from
tems was the addition of an automatic burst the data channels the bank of filters from
rate synchronizer and an automatic frame 15.1 kc to 16.3 kc and not have those teeth in
sync recognizer and verification system. the filter contribute to the AGC system in the
This removed from the operator the control bank since the AGC was designed for a 50-cps
and decision previously needed by him to data word rate and the 100-cps rate would
process a tape. shift the AGC erroneously.
The sequence arrangement of Ariel I meant Comb Filter Converter. This was a logic
that, in order to correctly determine channels system to convert one of the 128 pulses
and frames, there must be an indicator of from the comb filter at any burst time into a
which frame was which. This was done by BCD or octal number representing the fre-
using the sync pulse position and encoding a quency of the burst. If the data were analog,
specific frequency in the sync burst of a they were represented as a number from 1 to
specific frame. Upon decoding the sync fre- 123 ; if digital, a number from 000 to 700.
quency the data processor could continuously Word Synchronizer. A digital phase-locked
monitor and check its frame decommutator loop acquired the phase and frequency of the
position. telemetry burst rate and provided a clock to
The beginning of a low-speed playback was the remaining parts of the system. It also
recognized by a two-second burst of 320 cps. provided a flywheel for passing through miss-
This required special filter and logic circuits. ing data.
This signal was used to correlate the low- Frame and ChanneI Decommutation. This
speed data with real time. subsystem provided the logic to determine
The system was designed to treat the data which frame and which channel were being
as follows: with a front panel switch in the recognized so that the data output could be
hi-speed data position, the recognition cir- indicated as either analog or octal.
cuits would detect the hi-speed format and Mode Recognizer. This circuit provided
when locked on correctly would then output the necessary logic for determining whether
data to the computer control buffer. When hi-speed or low-speed data were being re-
low-speed data were recognized while in the ceived.
hi-speed mode, they were ignored and no data Processor Output Control. This subsys-
were sent to the buffer. As soon as the hi- tem was a large multiplexer which gathered
speed resumed, the system output was re- all data and commands and controlled the
sumed. buffer operation.
Frame Sync, Search, and Lock. This unit
speed mode, the recognition circuits would detected frame sync, verified correct acquisi-
detect the 320 cps tone and lock onto the low- tion, and provided a flywheel over missing
speed data. At the end of the low-speed data sync pulses. The system did not output data
the system would stop. unless in the lock mode.
Subsystem Description. The. system was Computer Format Control Buffer. This
comprised of several subsystems described as was a commercial equipment which contained
follows : a time decoder, a memory, and a digital tape
Comb Filter. A contiguous bank of 100- recorder. Its function is to receive data

113
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

from the processor or time from the time 2. Display and print the frequency of
decoder, both upon cbmmand from the proces- any one channel in every frame.
sor, and to put this information on a digital 3. Collect the data groupings C_, C2, C3,
tape in IBM-binary coded decimal format. and C4, and C_, Co, and X1, X2, X3, X4, and
The digital tape then was suitable for further Xs, in which each channel was one of eight
processing by a computer. possible discrete frequencies, and thus three
bits of the larger multibit number, and hav-
Ariel I Test Stand--A. Demmerle
ing compiled these three bit numbers, convert
The Ariel I (test stand) data reduction them to an easy-to-read decimal number for
system was designed and three systems built display and printout.
to facilitate the integration and testing of the 4. Keep track of how many high-speed
satellite. The system's input was the raw and how many low-speed sequences had
PFM signal, obtained from a receiver output elapsed.
or as recorded on an instrumentation tape
The principal differences between this sys-
deck. The outputs of the systems were de-
tem and the data reduction system for final
commutated and decoded data, which allowed
in-flight data processing (STARS line) lie
the checkout of the entire satellite data col-
in two areas:
lecting system, from the sensor, encoders, and
modulator through the transmitters and RF 1. This system had a higher threshold
equipment. These outputs were presented signal-to-noise ratio; i.e., it could not process
very noisy in-flight data, it did not use the
both as visual displays and on a paper-tape
printout which served as a permanent record sophisticated signal conditioning equipment
of the final in-flight data processing lines.
of the satellite's performance under the vari-
ous tests for environmental conditions. The 2. It could not output all the data all the
degree to which this system processed the time, nor did it output data on a digital tape,
data can be best seen by viewing at the PFM ready for further data reduction by computer
encoder format. processing. Instead it visually displayed the
Each channel was a ten-millisecond blank output of only several channels of data at one
followed by a sinusoidal ten-millisecond burst time, which was all that was necessary for the
which conveyed information by virtue of the integration testing and evaluation stage of a
frequency of the burst. (There were two satellite design.
types of sequence, the high-speed sequence It was, however, capable of some process-
which consisted of 16 channels/frame and ing of some in-flight data, and was in fact
16 frames/sequence which was used for real used for "quick look" immediately upon and
time data transmission, and a low-speed after launch to see that the satellite was func-
sequence with 16 channels/frame and two tioning properly. It was well suited to this
frames/sequence which was used for playing purpose because of its ready output of read-
back, upon command, data which had been able, usable data.
recorded on an on-board tape recorder.)
During the low speed encoder data the blanks Statistical Summary
were filed by a 15.4 kc sinusoidal signal
Tabulated here are the totals of the data
which was used as a reference signal to cor-
rect for on-board tape recorder speed fluctu- acquired, processed and shipped to the U.K.
ations. for the active life of Ariel I. This covers the
This data reduction system could : period from launch up to the time data acqui-
1. Find and maintain synchronism be- sition terminated in November, 1964.
tween the data reduction system, and the 1. Telemetry Data Tapes Received
telemeter format, i.e., be able to label any from Network Stations
given channel and frame in the same way it a. No. Received From
had been labeled within the satellite encoder. All Stations .............. 11,910

114
DATA PROCESSING

b. Disposition : a. Average Hours per Edit


1) Shipped to U.K. (Singa- Tape (3307+597) ........ 5.50
pore and South Atlantic b. Average Hours per File
tapes) ................ 2,059 (3307+18,055) .......... 0.18
2) Stored at Federal Record As is apparent from the tabulation above,
Center, Alexandria, Va. 5,687 a large percent (57%) of the files received
3) Stored in Building 16, were unprocessable. The major cause of un-
GSFC ................. 4,164 processable tapes was the lack of modulation
2. Data Files or unintelligible modulation. This was at-
a. No. Received From tributed to the degeneration of vehicle per-
All Stations ............... 42,407 formance subsequent to the Starfish event in
b. Average No. Per Analog July 1962. The telemetry system operation
Tape (42,407+11,910) .... 3.5 became erratic. Days in which good quality
c. No. Processed and Sent to data were acquired were followed by days in
U.K ...................... 18,055 which poor quality or no data were acquired.
d. No. Unprocessable ........ 24,852 These periods were as short as a few days
3. Digital Tapes and as long as three months.
a. STARS Line Tapes (Stored Even though the percentage of unprocess-
in Building 16, GSFC) ..... 618 able files was exceptionally high for Ariel I,
b. Edit Tapes Sent to U.K ..... 597* the amount of data successfully processed
c. Average No. of Files per was high as compared to most other satellites
Edit Tape (18,055+597)___ 30 using PFM telemetry, as can be noted in the
4. Hours of Data Sent to U.K .... 3,307 following table :

Equivalent No. of
Total Hours of Data Data Points
Successfully Processed Successfully Processed

Ariel I 3307 595,OOO,0OO


Explorer 12 (S-3) 1500 270,000,000
Explorer 14 (S-3a) 6232 1,120,000,000
Explorer 15 (S-3b) 1917 345,000,000
Explorer 18 (IMP-l) 5737 65,000,000

Conclusion control techniques, both machine and manual,


Processing of Ariel I data required a major at both the input and output ends of the data
support effort by GSFC entailing extensive processing chain. The system, procedures
use of tape evaluation equipment, signal proc- and techniques that evolved from the process-
essing equipment, and electronic computers; ing of Ariel I data, have served as a valuable
as well as persons competent in the use and model in subsequent automatic telemetry data
processing. All GSFC data processing sup-
application of this equipment. The erratic
port commitments were successfully met.
performance of the spacecraft telemetry after
It would be grossly unfair to conclude with-
the Starfish event, presented the problem of
out acknowledging the efforts and contribu-
salvaging the maximum amount of useable
tions of the members of the Data Processing
data from the telemetry tapes received. This
Branch who were intimately involved in car-
problem was resolved by means of quality
rying out the operations described above.
* Twenty-six tapes were returned from the U.K., rerun, and Mr. Thomas J. Lynch was responsible for the
sent back.

115
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

overall planning and the computer program- ence. Two 1401 edit programmes were pre-
ming effort. Mr. Daniel Dembrow managed pared, one for the real-time (high-speed)
the production operations with the able as- data, the other for the stored (low-speed)
sistance of Mr. Clyde Freeman. And finally, data; these two types of data had been digi-
Mr. Bernie Narrow and Mr. Dembrow con- tized in separate chronological sequences in
tributed greatly to the documentation pre- the U.S. and were handled entirely separately
sented herein. from each other in the U.K.
One hour of high-speed data required 12
UNITED KINGDOM PROCESSING minutes to edit; the low-speed data took
rather longer.
E. B. Dorling, U.K. Project Coordinator
The edited data were next processed on an
The data from ARIEL I were received in IBM 7090 computer. The inputs to the com-
the United Kingdom in digital form on a total puter were a 1401 output tape, an orbital tape
of 623 magnetic tapes (including 26 which (a weekly data tape written at the GSFC in
were redigitized on the NASA STARS line) binary code, giving geodetic longitude, lati-
tude and height against every minute of
with the individual experiments still inter-
mixed. Satellite height-and-position data Universal Time), ten day cards and the pro-
were also received on magnetic tape. The gram. The outputs were five high-density
initial task in the U.K. was to separate the tapes, four in BCD carrying the results of the
data on individual tapes, first analyzing and experiments contributed by each of the four
groups of experiments, the fifth in binary,
reducing them where po:asible and adding the
duplicating certain of U.C.L. data. Two
orbital information and any other relewmt
7090 programs were prepared, one for the
geophysical data. Thus, each experimenter
high-speed data, the other for the low-speed
could be presented with his results in a form
data; both comprised a main program in
suitable for further independent analysis
FORTRAN with sub-routines and functions
and interpretation.
mainly in FORTRAN but with one or two
(such as a sub-routine provided by the GSFC
The Computer Program
for reading the binary orbital tape) in FAP.
The computer operations in the U.K. were The majority of the sub-routines contained
organized in the following way. The data, complex logical arguments concerning the ac-
which were written in low density (200 ceptance or rejection of data, followed by
eh./in.) binary coded decimal format were simple calibrations and the evaluation of
edited on an IBM i401 computer. This oper- functions. One sub-routine computed B/L
ation checked the identification record on values at given points and added these to the
each data file (a file being the data acquired Imperial College and Birmingham low-speed
in one 10- to 20-minute pass of the satellite data. Another sub-routine checked the tim-
over a STADAN station), identified the syn- ing of each frame and detected faulty values,
chronization pulses which began each encoder correcting them where possible, printing
frame, checked that each data sample had its them out where not. With the low-speed
appropriate three-character word, and dis- data the real times of each data frame were
carded any eneoder sequence which was in- computed from the playback time accompany-
complete. The output was written on mag- ing each file, and were inserted. A necessary
netic tape in high density (556 eh./in.) BCD input with both programs was a batch of
in a standard format of one identification ten-punched cards or "day cards" which pro-
record and a series of long data records, one vided certain extra information necessary to
record per encoder sequence, each pass again the interpretation of some experiments. For
being written as one file. If required, the instance, solar aspect measurements were
edited data could at the same time be listed in carried on the high-speed encoder but were
columns on the 1401 printer for easy refer- needed in the analysis of the stored data;

116
DATA PROCESSING

accordingly these measurements were re- was modified, usually by the removal of a
duced by hand in advance of the routine data sub-routine. With the failure of the Bir-
processing and values were inserted on the mingham RF probe on 3rd March 1963 the
low-speed day cards. Entries on these cards U.C.L. electron density and temperature boom
were also used to correct play-back command probe became the sole surviving sensor, and
time errors which had been detected from at this stage an important change in proce-
records supplied by the GSFC. With the dure was made. It was arranged that the
high-speed program the day cards were responsibility for processing all data acquired
largely concerned with calculation of sunrise should be taken over by U.C.L. from the
and sunset times. S.R.M.U. To economize in machine time a
In order to save future computer time the new computer program was prepared by
experimenters' outputs were written in spe- U.C.L. which, amongst other changes, dis-
cial long records of several thousand charac- pensed with the preliminary 1401 editing
ters each. The product of one computer run routine. It also dispensed with the orbital
was written as a single file of these long tape and instead calculated each height and
records, a run being based usually on the position from the appropriate orbital ele-
contents of one U.S. digital tape, averaging ments, a process which in this particular
33 files or satellite passes. One file of high- application saved computer time.
speed data took about seven minutes to proc-
Errors in Data
ess on the 7090 (half this time on the 7094) ;
the low-speed data took a little longer. The 1401 edit programs were written bear-
In general the low-speed data, which were ing in mind that the data would contain a
of good quality, were processed fully well in variety of errors, or would fail to conform
advance of the high-speed data because of the exactly with the specified format. Certain
great value of orbit-by-orbit coverage, coupled errors were not foreseen, however, and these
with the relative simplicity of the analysis either halted the 1401 (as, for example,
procedures. with an asterisk) or they, were carried
The product of a 7090 run was, as we have through to the 7090, causing data to be reject-
seen, five partially-filled experimenters' tapes. ed or to give faulty outputs or to cause the
These tapes were collated from time to time run to be terminated. Because of the large
to produce final master tapes. In some cases volume of other data awaiting attention, time
the masters have been or will be used on com- was not spent on overcoming errors but, with
certain exceptions, the tapes were put aside.
puters for a further stage of analysis; in
Some ten per cent of the total data up to 3rd
others no further computer analysis is in-
March 1963 were affected. The experiment-
tended. In particular most of the stored
Birmingham RF probe electron density data, ers were informed of the position and were
to which were added Universal Time, local told that recovery would only be attempted
solar time, geodetic and geopotential height, by special reques t . The exceptions were the
geodetic and geomagnetic co-ordinates, have low-speed data and those data taken in the
first three weeks after launch where the
been printed in full and reproduced in four
X-ray experiment was working correctly.
volumes for general scientific use ; the remain-
Errors encountered here were first located
ing data may be published in a fifth volume
in due course. and identified, then removed by selective
copying. In order that as much solar X-
radiation data as possible should be recovered
Program Modification
some data were redigitized at the GSFC and
From time to time during the life of the in addition a few analog passes originally
satellite an experiment would cease to oper- rejected as unusable were digitized. Where
ate, and so at the appropriate stage in the these data were then found to be too poor to
data processing the 7090 computer program be accepted by the 1401 edit program, they

117
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

were listed in their raw form and sent to the difficulties by modifications to the programs
experimenter to be analyzed by hand; but it in the time available.
is of interest that little useful information
could in fact be obtained from data rejected Summary of Tape Operations
by the 1401. A total of 623 magnetic tapes (including
Two difficulties encountered during the 26 redigitized) were received in the U.K.
computer operations caused a disproportion- from the Data Processing Branch of the
ate expenditure of time and money. One was GSFC. These carried 8307 hours of non-
the inability of the 1401 to deal with an redundant data, including some 850 play-
asterisk, the result of encountering a crop of backs of low-speed data.
asterisks on data tape being a large number Of the total amount of digitized data re-
of extra 1401 operations and a proliferation ceived, about 37% (1200 hours) were proc-
of 7090 output tapes. The other difficulty essed by the S.R.M.U., using over 850 hours
was the action of the 7090 monitor in termi- of IBM 1401 time and 140 hours of IBM 7090
nating a run when a fault was encountered, time (not including time lost initially with
rather than permitting the fault to be skipped program faults). About 31/9% of the data
and the run continued. This again caused were rejected because of errors. The re-
more 1401 copying operations and resulted maining 60% (2000 hours) carried only elec-
in yet more 7090 output tapes. Unfortu- tron temperature data and these were proc-
nately, it proved impossible to overcome these essed separately by U.C.L.

118
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30. DRUYVESTEYN, M. J., "Afterglow in Glow Lamps Filled with Neon, Argon, and
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33. KRAUS, L., AND WATSON, K. M., "Plasma Motions Induced by Satellites in the Iono-
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34. RAND, S., "Damping of the Satellite Wake in the Ionosphere," Phys. Fluids 3 (4) :
588-599, July-August, 1960.
35. ALPEaT, YA. L., GUREVICH, A. V., AND PITAEVSKIT, L. P., "Effects Produced by an
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36. SAWACHUK, W., "Wake of a Charged Prolate Spheroid at Angle of Attack in a
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37. NORMAN, K., AND WILLMORE, A. P., "A Measurement of Positive Ion Density in
the Night Time F-Region," Planet. Space Sci. 13(1) :1-8, January 1965.
38. BOYD, R. L. F., "Plasma Probes on Space Vehicles," International Conference on
Ionization Phenomena in Gases, Fifth Proceedings, Munich, August 82-September
1, 1961 (H. Maecker, ed.):1388-1396, Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing
Co., 1962.
39. BOYD, R. L. F., "The Use of Probing Electrodes in the Study of the Ionosphere,"
J. Brit. I.R.E. 22 (5) :405-408, November 1961.

12O
REFERENCES

40. B0WEN, P. J., WILLMORE, A. P., AND BOYD, R. L. F., "Some Preliminary Results of
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41. BOWEN, P. J., BOYD, a. F., HENDERSON, C. a., AND WILLMORE, A. P., "Measurement
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42. NICOLET, M., "Helium, an Important Constituent in the Lower Exosphere," J. Geo-
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43. BOURDEAU, E. C., WHIPPLE, E. C., JR., DONLEY, J. L., AND BAUER, S. J., "Experi-
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45. BOYD, R. L. f., AND RAITT, W. J., "Positive Ion Temperatures Above the F-Layer
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46. HARRIS, I., AND PRIESTER, W., "Theoretical Models for the Solar-Cycle Variation of
the Upper Atmosphere," NASA Technical Note D-1444, August 1962.

47. APPLETON, E. V., "Wireless Studies of the Ionosphere," J. Inst. Brit. Eng. 71(430) :
624-650, October 1962.
48. LANGMUIR, I., AND MOTT-SMITH, H., "Studies of Electric Discharges in Gases at Low
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Lab. 6:375-514, June 1959.

51. MATTHEW, E. M., AND DEARDEN, E. W., Science 12:13.


52. SINGLETON, D. G., AND LYNCH, G. J. E., "Scintillation of the Radio Transmissions
from Explorer VII. Pt. I. The Nature of the Scintillations," J. Atmos. Terr. Phys.
24: 353-374, May 1962.

53. CROUCHLEY, J., AND DUFF, K., "A Study of Whistling Atomospherics," Aust. J. Phys.
15(4) :470-481, December 1962.
54. KING, J. W., Space Research V; Proceedings of the Fifth International Space Science
Symposium, Florence, May 12-16, 1964 (D. G. King-Hele, P. Muller, and G.
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55. APPLETON, E. V., "Two Anomalies in the Ionosphere, May 25, 1946, November 9,
1946," Nature 157:691, 1946.
56. MITRA, S. K., "Geomagnetic Control of Region F_ of the Ionosphere," Nature 158:
668-669, November 9, 1946.

57. MARTYN, D. F., "April 17, 1947 Atmospheric Tides in the Ionosphere I. Solar Tides
in the F._ Region," Proc. Roy. Soc. 189A :241-260, April 17, 1947.
58. LYON, A. J., AND THOMAS, L., "The F._.-Region Equatorial Anomaly in the African,
American and East Asian Sectors during Sunspot Maximum," J. Atmos. Terr.
Phys. 25 (7) :373-386, July 1963.

121
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

59. GOLDBERG, R. A., AND SCHMERLING, E. R., "The Effect of Diffusion on the Equilibrium
Electron Density Distribution in the F Region near the Magnetic Equator,"
J. Geophys. Res. 68 (7) : 1927-1936, April 1, 1963.
60. RISHRETH, I-I., LYON, A. J., AND PEART, M., "Diffusion in the Equatorial F Layer,"
J. Geophys. Res. 68(9) :2559-2570, May 1, 1963.
61. MARIANI, F., "Pitch-Angle Distribution of the Photo-Electrons and Origin of the
Geomagnetic Anomaly in the F2 Layer," J. Geophys. Res. 69(3):556-560, Febru-
ary 1, 1964.
62. MCILWAIN, C. E., "Coordinates for Mapping the Distribution of Magnetically
Trapped Particles," J. Geophys. Res. 66 (11) :3681-3691, November 1961.
63. HESS, W. N., "The Artificial Radiation Belt Made on July 9, 1962," J. Geophys. Res.
68 (3) :667-683, February 1, 1963.
64. PAULIKAS, G. A., AND FREDEN, D. C., "Precipitation of Energetic Electrons into the
Atmosphere," J. Geophys. Res. 69 (7) :1239-1249, April 1, 1964.
65. SCHRADER, C. D., KEIFER, R. C., WAGGONER, J. A., ZENGER, J. H. AND BLOOM, S. D.,
"Proton, Electron Fluxes (_ 75 kev) from OSO," Paper no. 86 presented at the
$$th Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union March 1963.
66. ROTHWELL, P., WAGER, J. n., AND SAYERS, J., "Effect of the Johnston Island High-
Altitude Nuclear Explosion on the Ionization Density in the Topside Ionosphere,"
J. Geophys. Res. 68(3) :947-949, February 1, 1963.
67. ALEXANDER, J. H., "Electronic Instruments for Astronomical Measurements from
Space Vehicles," Ph.D. Thesis, University College, London, 1963.
68. BAUMANN, R. C., "The Ariel 1 Satellite," Proc. Roy. Soc. 281A:439-445, October 6,
1964.
69. SEMPLE, E. C., "A Study of the Spin-Axis Precession Characteristics to be Expected
of the $53/UK3 Satellite," R. A. E. Technical Memorandum No. Space 62, Farn-
borough, England, 1964.
70. EVANS, W. J., "Aerodynamic and Radiation Disturbance Torques on Satellites Hav-
ing Complex Geometry," Torques and Attitude Sensing in Earth Satellites (S. F.
Singer, ed.) : 83-98, New York: Academic Press, 1964.
71. HUTH, J. H., "Power Supplies for Space Vehicles," Advances in Space Science, I
(F. I. Ordway, III, ed.) : 111-157, New York: Academic Press, 1959.

122
ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOURDEAU, R. E., "Ionospheric Results with Sounding Rockets and the Explorer VIII
Satellite," Space Research II ; Proceedings of the Second International Space Science
Symposium, Florence, Italy, April 10-1_, 1961 (H. C. Van de Hulst, C. de Jager, and
A. F. Moore, eds.) : 554-573, Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing Co., 1961.
BOURDEAU, R. E., AND BAUER, S. J., "Structure of the Upper Atmosphere Deduced from
Charged Particle Measurements on Rockets and the Explorer VIII Satellite," Space
Research III; Proceedings of the Third International Space Science Symposium,
Washington, D. C. May 2-8, 1962 (W. Priester, ed.): 173-193, Amsterdam: North-
Holland Publishing Co., 1963.
BOURDEAU, R. E., DONLEY, J. a., SERBU, G. P., AND WHIPPLE, E. C., JR., "Measurements
of Sheath Currents and Equilibrium Potential on the Explorer VIII Satellite," J.
Astronaut. Sci. 8 (3) :65-73, 1961.
CONN, J. H., SUTTON, J. F., Report of Environmental Vibration Test--Structural Model
No. 1, International Ionosphere Satellite, S-51, Goddard Space Flight Center 321.2
(JC) S-51-11, June 1961.
CORNILLE, n. J., JR., "A Method of Accurately Reducing the Spin Rate of a Rotating
Spacecraft," NASA Technical Note D-1420, October 1962.
DAVIES, A. H., HARRIS, I., Rarefied-Gas Dynamics, III, p. 661, 1963.
ENG, T. L., "Energy Absorber for the Ariel I Instrument Booms," Washington, D. C.:
NASA Technical Note D-1857, January I964.
FEDOR, J. V., "Analytical Theory of the Stretch Yo-Yo for De-Spin of Satellites," NASA
Technical Note D-1676, April 1963.
FORSYTHE, R. W., "A Method for Simulating Zero Gravity Erection of Satellite Append-
ages," NASA Technical Note D-1852, January 1964.
FORSYTHE, R. W., "Analysis of Dissimilar Satellite Appendages During Erection,"
NASA Technical Note D-1688, January 1964.

FRIEDMAN, H., "Solar Radiation," Aeronautics 7(8):14-23, August 1962.


FRIEDMAN, H., LICHTMAN, S. W., BYRAM, E. T., "Photon Counter Measurements of Solar
X-Rays and Extreme Ultra-Violet Light," Phys. Rev. 83 (5):1025-1030, September 1,
1951.

FUECHSEL, C. J., KRUEGER, V. L., MAI{TIN, R. G., PIAZZA, F. D., TURKIEWICZ, J. M.,
"Electronic Integration of the S-51 Uk-1 International Ionosphere Satellite," NASA
Technical Note D-3001, September 1965.
HORD, W. n., General Environmental Test Specification and Test Procedures for Design
Qual'fication and Flight Acceptance Testing of Delta Launched Satellite. NASA/
GSFC/TE internal publication, September 1961.
HORD_ W. H., Environmental Test S_ecifications for Design Qualification and Flight
Acceptance Tests of the International Satellite. NASA/GSFC/TE internal publica-
tion, December 1961.

Horn), W. H., Test Plan--Structural Test ETU _1 S-51 Satellite. NASA/GSFC/TE


internal publication, April 1961.
ttOIID, W. H., Environmental Exposures and Tests for Subassemblies of International
Ionosphere Satellite S-51. NASA/GSFC/TE internal publication, February 1961.
HORD, W. J., "Environmental Test Program for Ariel I," NASA Technical Note D-2099,
February 1964.

KPO, ssovsKY, V. I., "Exploration of the Upper Atmosphere with the Help of the Third
Soviet Sputnik," Proc. 1.R.E. 47 (2) :289-296, February 1959.

123
ARIEL 1: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

Kyoto, September 4-15, 1961. Proceedings. v. 3, International Conference on Cosmic


Rays 33-44, Tokyo : Physical Society of Japan, 1962.
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Center internal publication X-634-62-157, Greenbelt, Md. : NASA 1962.
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netically-Trapped Radiation Produced by a High-Altitude Nuclear Explosion on July
9, 1962, Nat_tre 195:939-943, September 8, 1962.
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Heavy Nuclei on the Primary Cosmic Radiation," International Conference on Cosmic
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POUNDS, K. A., "Measurement of Solar X-Radiation," J. Brit. I. R. E. 22(2): 171-175,
August 1961.
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of Physics and the Physical Society, 1963.
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August 18, 1964.
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Space Power Systems Conference, Santa Monica, California, Paper No. 2498-62:27
pp., September 25-28, 1962.

124
APPENDIX A

Physical Measurements of Ariel I


The weights, centers of gravity and moments Moment of inertia (slug-ft 2)
of inertia are given in the following itemization: Pitch axis ........................ 9. 277
Roll axis ......................... 2. 610
SATELLITE ONLY*

SEPARATION UNIT AND DUTCHMAN t


Weight (lb) ........................ 135.82

All components folded : Weight (lb) ........................ 35. 56


Center of gravity, aft of separation
Center of gravity, forward of separa-
plane (in.) ....................... 8.53
tion plane (in.) ................. 5. 961
Moment of inertia (slug-ft 2)
Moment of inertia (slug-ft 2)
Pitch axis ...... : ................. 0. 294
I_ ............................ 5.25
Roll axis ......................... 0.451
I,, (Roll axis) .................. 1.99
Iyy ............................ 4.75
ANTENNAS AND HARNESS (VIBRA-
All components extended: TION EXPERIMENT) t
Center of gravity, forward of separa-
tion plane (in.) ................. 8. 125 Weight (lb) ........................ 3.58
Center of gravity, aft of separation
Moment of inertia (slug-ft 2)
x-x axis ........................ 5. 130 plane (in.) ....................... 44.94
Roll axis ....................... 5. 484 Moment of inertia (slug-ft _)
Pitch axis ........................ 0. 0705
y-y axis ........................ 4. 030
Roll axis ......................... 0. 0831
FOLDED ARIEL I PAYLOAD'f
TIE DOWNS_
Weight (lb)
Orbiting satellite .................. 133.8 Weight (lb) ........................ 2.66
De-spin weights .................. 2.0 Center of gravity, aft of separation
Separation and release system (with plane (in.) ....................... 32.30
tie,tawn._) ............ 21.3 Moment of inertia (slug-ft 2)
Dutchman and vibration experi- Pitch axis ........................ 0. 016
ment :_........................ 20.6 Roll axis ......................... 0. 080
TOTAl, payload weight not furnished
by Delta vehicle .............. 177.7 * Refer to Figures A1 and A2.
'f Refer to Figure A3.
( '(,nt(,r of gravity, forward of separation :_Includes U.K.-designed contamination experiment
plane (in.) ................... 1.42 and solar aspect sensor, and telemetering antennas.

125
ARIEL I" THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

INERTIA _*OOM

SOLAR
SOLAR
PADDLE
PADDLE A

ELECTRON
TEMPERATURE
BOOM

- D
\
ELECTRON DENSITY
BOOM

SOLAR '_
PADDLE /z_

SOLAR
INE RIIA BOOM PADDLE /_

[]

\ S[ PARA TION
PLANE

FIGURE A1. Payload axes.

126
APPENDIX A--PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS OF ARIEL I

_._..__ TEMP. _¢_ X - RAY ¢. DENSI_


BOOM .___4. PADDLES
2 AND 4 BOOM

Y - AXIS X - AXIS
FOR CALIBRATION FOR CALIBRATION

I
_/Ix = 5.130

J
I
4
_'_I y : 4.030

H
3

I
90 °
PRINCIPAL AXES
114°

I I I I I I I
20 ° _0 ° 60 ° 80 ° 100 ° 120 ° 140 ° 160 ° 180°

26 ° 34.4 °

29.6 °
450 900 950 116° 127"6° L
Y - AXIS J, X - AXIS

FZGURE A2. Principal moments of inertia vs. payload axes, all components extended.

C HAIxlC E VOUGHT
SEPARATION UNIT

DELTA NYLON
DUTCHMAN TIE DOWNS

VIBRATION EXPERIMFNT _ X - 248 -AS


SEPARATION PLANE /
' ANTENNA MOIOR
VIBRATION EXPER ME.NT
ELECERONICS

I, I, I,I, I'
n 2 4 6 8 Io 12 11 I,, I_ ;()
H JC!IF',

FIGURE A3. Ariel I nomenclature diagram.

127
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

TABLE A1

Detailed Weight Breakdown of Ariel 1

Item Remarks Weight Item Remarks Weight


(lb) i (lb)

University College London Experiments--Continu('d


Upper dome Includes thermal 6. 53
and RF coating
Mid-skin Includes thermal 6. 80 UCL electronics Includes 10 U.K. 6. 76
and RF coating container 2 cards
Lower dome Includes thermal 1.52
grating only Imperial College Experiment
Shelf and base Shelf, struts, base, 12. 63

assembly fasteners
Includes elec- 5. 70
Paddle arms and Includes interface 4. 36 Cosmic ray
analyzer tronics
hinges (4) fasteners
Inertia booms and Includes interface 3. _5

hinges (2) fasteners University of Birmingham Experiment


Experiment boom Includes interface 0. 87
hinges fasteners
Electron density 5. 50
Escapement Includes nylon 1. 54
I)oo m
assembly guides
Electronics 2. 79
De-spin housing Includes guillo- 1. 76
container
tines
De-spin weights, Excluded from 2. 00
0. 80 GSFC Non-Structure Components
Spring anten- orbit weight
nas (4)
Separation ring Includes interface 0.51 3. 66
Tape recorder
adapter fasteners 0. 39
Tape recorder
Battery contain- Includes spacers 3. 05 dc control
ers Encoder card In UCL container 0. 49
Dynamic balance I. 93 1
UCL no. 1
Tape recorder and I. 07 In UCL container 0. 56
Encodcr card
electron tem- UCL no. 2 2
perature slip- Cosmic ray Including con- 0. 96
ports encoder card lainer
Turn-on plug and 0.14 2 encoder cards, 5. 87
Eleclronic pack
housing A encoder clock
Harness bracketry Inchnlcs clamps 1. 34 2 converter cards,
fasteners lid
Component Non-structure 0. 91 6, 93
Electronic pack 2 programmer, 2
bracketry components B convcr ter, 1
Internal thernml Coatings and heat 0. 97
undervoltage
equalization sinks dctector, trans-
mitter, and
command re-
University College London Experiments
ceiver cards,
lid
Ly man-alpha 1. 62
Battery selector O. 50
detectors (3)
1-Year timers O. 72
X-ray counters 0. 64
(2)
(2)
Including spars 8. 78
0. 43 Solar pa(tdles (4)
Solar aspect
Battery packs (2) Including potting 12. 08
sensor
Solar shunt O. 24
Ion mass spec- Includes 4-inch 0. 54
trometer extension tube regulator
Harness network Top dome, main 6. 54
Fleetron temper- 0. 37
assemble below
ature sensor
5. 50 shelf assembly
Electron temper- Includes balance
ature boom weights
UCL eleclronics Inchutcs 4 U.K. 5. 67 TOTAl, ARIFI, I WI,]IGHT ..... 135, s2
comainer l car (I._

TABLE A1. Detailed weight breakdown of Ariel I.

128
APPENDIX B

Operational Parameters of Ariel I


The following charts present a profile of all measured operational parameters throughout
the useful life of the mission. In addition, a day-by-day profile of the quality of telemetry
signal throughout the useful life of the satellite is shown.

129
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

:_

_t.- ._ _Z

ill_i
,_-._-+- = :
iiii
..... !!!!

Ilbl in II i

Ill
i Ii_'1 BL UR

--I_ t i
19i ii i

!
130
APPENDIX B--SATEL.LITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

-I

I |

-J

E
_z
•Co .

_ Ez
'c Z _-
z

131
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

_o _o
_z .o. ,,.

zo,,;.
.=..
_
,.o,- _<"
_"_
-JZ_
"J Ill i _,--

_o o,-_'

_(.,I

(1VILINI)
S I IV_q,'J.IldJ.IlO _VUlIV ilV305
E
o o. _. q _. ,q. o. ,x

• t _-

I I I I I I I IJl I I
_ _ i I I I I I _LLJ
I III;111
ItJI4 I ] I; I
I I I I I I I I I'ml I I 11411111
"t III |1
I I_l ti _IJ I I 1:I I
kIJ I I !;_l
II[lll ;1_ III klrl I Ij;_J
I _=_ I I I I I J_J i!1 I il I.i'l i I i;I i
Illllti,l_
_1 I I I I III III
TIIIIIIIIIIJ
:q Itt
;" I I_1 i
llllltlilll/ lillli _.
I] I I I I I| t I II
III [ I I I_. I I I] Lo_l I_, I I I
, ,i ,,,i ,,,i ,,,i ,.i ,H U, ,I,, ,i

_'I"_'""_'rI"_'"I"_'""_"l"_ :
zo_ g
,(

r.o.L - .g
L)-_, < <

(lVl/INI)
SI_.VM-LndMIO AVlIIIV tlVIOS

I IIItII
III1_1 1i+i,
II,1,1 II[_iI
ll_It
III;

III_!II
I1111I __11
[ I I I I I I lil I
Illlll
| :;1_" IIlIII
IIII]ll 11111
IIIIiil IIlllI 0
[llllll_ II
1+ PT'_ rlI l '_ I qI _
''llI'l''III''llIIl'''ITT'lill'
_ _ _ _ II .... _ g ,_o_._ ,_ _ o
i
t- g z
,(

ii" '"_"

132
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Poss 0 I Z 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 I0 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 25 24 %
Sunlight

--69

__69

__69

__69

__67

11_4VJJHJHHJAVBJXHJJJJXNJ_NHA _ 67

67

_ 67

,4_ w s m, m, _'_ In _,., _,,a Im _ltmllJ _ 67

| 67

16_ || |_| |_ | " °"_B_IIII bnl_|l_ .... Ilml _• Bill | 66

_6

66

67

-_67
21_ II l_. l _= I • Ill l.l |fill ii |l| II | | --67

--67

__68
_ ]5 -i,, -, b b , I,,_ ,i i= ,.. i, i i' 68

7O
2_ |I| ill I I _III I!,B|IIB I |ffi Ill | _|
_Tjillm_mn_l m . nm m_n _ _ml II _ul _n _n m_
_2

73

| II 175

!
0 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 I0 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 25 24

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION / CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY A NO SIGNAL <] COMMAND
_'_' ASSUMED PROPER OPERATION

FI6URE B4. Ariel I profile, July 1962.

133
ARIEL I: THE F1RST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass o i z 5 4 s 6 "r 8 9 ,o II ,2 13_4,s _6,7_8_9_o2, _223_4 %
No.
i I I I i I I III i I ISun"g
"*
1375 1_- .,, =, ..,i"'= d,, I, 11 i. _ _ _ mSL 7,
1390

1403 3_I[] i Imllili,,|'i,,li_l II m _i _ i L _ml i L85


1417 4111l<i i Im lm _i _II _mm, mm m , mlnml,|_ 89
1431 51 n u nmnnniannn_i _mm_Imu _u i n _Innnnu_k_ 95
1446 _.,b,,_,..1,.,,I.._, _.-_m, ,I= _, i _i_,,,.I=I 1oo
1460

1475 81=.i ,I,..I.,_ In ._-. ,_. _. _ _ - =_I ,%1oo


1489

1503 ,o_l_l i_m,,ilmi_ilm_i i ..ira <il _m _m _ml l_mi..• i_ 86


1517

1531

1546

1560 14,I=..I,.¢i.._, _- _. i. _ I, I,, Ca ._i...L 74


1574

1589 1_=,,_m..<i.._l _.. _i, ,. _ <i I,, .I,, .==<i_._=L 7o


1603 17 nm m_m n_m_ i _ | _mn _m _mnulmnmnmm[]nm 69
1617 ;8_.I,.m..._, _. =. m. _, I, I, m,.m,==. • , 68
1631 ;9_11il lil,i l• <ii if Hi I • I l • i i I_ 6S
646:
2O HI III l<_ II II II I I I I l l l • I I I i TM 67
661 21 1 lll_ll_l il III II I III_I I II Ili []I I 67
675

690 2aii
22| 'mm''''| _m_. ii ii I _m I Bm
l_m ....ii ,. • I , II .,,.| Ill I• ,. I •
m_m_ l_illl_,
ii .,, _ 66
66

704 24_ 14l I_ i IN I I I II Ill l• I • I lllll_ .65


718 2511 llll i il el II I II Ill Ii l • l<ill_lll_ 65
732
_61_,._ I= .. ,... . ....mum , • .= =.,.,_ 65
74 7 27_IHI i lli'l i II I II lllli I [] I I II l I_ 65
761 281 111 _III I a" I II llll i l II llll_l'__ 65
1775 29jI_ l_g II i i I II II Ii I I I I ll II 11__ 65
1790 3o_6 • i . i . 6. ,i am . • i _m l_mli_mm.__ 66

1804 31J I_ lll il IN I II II III I • I I I I II • • I _ 66


I 'i 'I 'I !
0 I ? 3 4 S 6 7 8 9 I0 II I_ 13 14 IS 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

COLOR CODE
[] MODULATION _' CARRIER ,I ABNORMAL MODULATION
[] CARRIER ONLY [] NO SIGNAL <} COMMAND

FIGURE B5. Ariel l profile, August 1962.

134
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I Z 5 4 5 6 ? 8 ? I0 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2324 %
Do,et I J I )I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Sun,gh,
lJli II III _'il I I •1 il i i I [] I •il•ll I i_66

3p IN • I I I lllll I iN i[]llllillil 67
4j [] Ill °"_il II I II Ill li I [] li •BIB III I _68

1 11 []1 II II I •1 I•1 II I _ I • I •11 II1•

_
6
9
_mmo mn mm nm m nm mn mmm n • n • mmmm mmm i m_7o
7_k
....
mn mm mm m mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmm;_m mm_7,
8_ mmm mm mm m mm
m • mm m i m []m • mu • • [] mm,m__72
9J lm m m m ml mmmm m [], [] IIimmlll mm 73

lOlIl mm mm I ml mm lm m [] ml IN • • • 74

11J I mm • m iN in n m mm mm In n • ml --75

i2J mm iI m IN II IN [] l [] []lllll I l l • --76

13l IN mm m II IN Ill l l I l []iN Illl IN l --76

mm mm l IN Illllll [] • l • IN IN l IN __76
1411I I
m m m I l IN l[] l • • l mill IN [] Ill 75

16 I I IN IN IN l • • llllllll [] Ill --74

l I II IN IN I [] [] l lllllll [] ll|l --73


_7_ IN
m m
18Jm!_o mm mmmmmm [] im mm mm mm mm m__72
191 I II miNim • • • IN IN Hi Ill IN __71

2o_
mi l l II IN Ill[] [] millime IN II IN _69

21J • mm in !.m mm • [] m,,m,,,mm• ,,, m!i _8


22j m mm mmnmmm [] mnimnmi um m mmmn _67
23j mm mnimmi [] []muNro[]mm mm iN• mm _6
24: n m m IN m • [] []minim iN [] mmmm iN _5
25. in mm m mm [] [] Ill mm mm mm mmm mm _5
26. l mm nm mm m m m ill• mm • ill mI m_4
27 m IN mm mmm m mm [] []iNN IN [] mm mm m ----64
28 mm mm nmm m [] mmm iN iN m m._ ---64

29. n m iN n[] [] [] mmmmm nm m mm m ,_3

30 m m nm m[] • mmnmmmm mm mm mn m _3
I I I l 1 i I i I I i 1 i 1 i i l I I I I I
I
I) I)II IIII iIIIIIIII!II
0 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 I0 II IZ 15 I+ 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 27 't574

COLOR CODE
[] MODULATION i¢ CARRIER W ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO SIGNAL _ COMMAND

FIGURE B6. Ariel I profile, September 1962.

135
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GnEENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2223E4 %
N°.I Oo,e I I I I I I I I q I I i Son,,gh,
2246[ It | • • | • • •|| • I • i• II il i _63

22601 2]i m nmm i • • "all •li• i • am • _..I _63


22751 3_ I| || | m m| n, W | |i_ , I _63
22891 4/ I i •1 • • • l •• • n I II Ill i _ t _ 63
_o_
i 5],o= = ,, ,, o, ° _,_,..... , , ,,_o_
23isJ 6_11 nl in • • liD • l i • Ill • i t _64
:_i '_'='" " = ="° '_ • ="' ' ' ;°:
2_461_7i I • • • • II • •• l II I In i I [65
2360J 9_1 I II I I1 In = o!' lm In m 1 _66

2.,461,_ ti I I Ill I t I II ill I I t .... I ll! 7i


_°°l'4= " " _i...,.....°,.. ,. ,° ,° ""4 ':
24751 ,;,_l n I nil I ii • • i-i l I in | 1 72

2489J 18_I • Hi •lln lU • m Ill I | |II 11ffil I 72


_°_1 "4 = I ili I | = ""i l n in i i i l • Ii t _,l
2s,81 20tl l lilllll, ii I l I I I II Iii i_72
2_2/ 2qi = III II!_ ,t t t I t" II In Ill I mmt 7,
2546/ 2{ I Hi Jill In i Ill i Iliill t 71
25601 23tl i lull ll i In l I lilil _70
2575/ 24_l im fill II I ill Ill i Ill• II /69
:_._/:4, = =,,,,= ==, , =,,= =_o_
26_s/ 27_i Illl II I I Ill I In Illl • _66
2632/ 211 Ilil in In ill Illl l I I iN • I t 66
2646/ 29_ HI •l • • I It I li i Ill I • • L 65
2661/ 30_ HI • l• • I nl I I iN Ill• i_65

0 I 2 5 4 5 6 '7 8 9 10 II IE 1:5 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 E22524

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION f CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY I NO SIGNAL _1 COMMAND

FIGURE B7. Ariel I profile, October 1962.

136
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass o _ 2 3 4 5 6 7 B 9 _o, _2,3 J4 _ 1617_ _9202, 2_232_ %
No. Oa_,,I I P r I I I I l I I 1 I I r I I E I J J Sun,igh,
2689 __64
17II BlUR In n Ill i i In In I • il
2703 64
2t il • • n nl I I Hi iI l I • •
2718 64
3_mlll iI l i n u n n nil Hi • Hi I
2732 64
4_ii in • I II l i i In IN l I • • •
2746 64
5tile ii iRa II Ill I In il • • HI
2761 64
6_1in i in • II ill I II I li I • [] I nn I
2775 64

2789 65
8_i il I I nil i . n atomi mm • • •
2803 65
9_ i • II III I I ll III I [] [] nl ill
2818 65
IOli • ii_ III _I I II III I • • II IIII
2832 ]III nI IIl III I i I II III I l • II lllI 66

2846 12] [] m Hum I ! i iI iil i In I mid aiII • 67

2861 131 I II Ill II II II • II iIli I 68


2875 141 n N III IiIll • I • I • In I 70

2889 IR Ill II III II I • II IlliI • 72

2904 16i _ i I II II lllg I • [] IllI I 75

2918 17]I I I Ii II II II I • • iI iIIi 78

2932 181 l III I I ilIII • II II • • 83

2946 191 i II I II il i I I II iIII m 92

2961 2ol i a |l I I II I II I • • il IIII • 100

2975 2_i II I II II Ill I • • II InlI In IO0

2989 2:_I II II II IIl II I • iI IIIi I • I tO0

300_ 2_ II l I IIIII III I I II IIIIIII II IO0

3018 241I I II II III I II I • II Ill II • I • IO0


3032 2511 I II II III IIi I • II llIilIil I | 100

3046 2_ I II I III I• I I I III IIIl • I 100

3061 • I III I • • II III• I Ii 100

3075 2 II II i I lli I I I, • I "I'_ • I 91

3089 i li I i [] 11 eli• • I iI 84

3104 3 I| m In l!ll • • _II i I in 80

I II 'llll I!
0 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ? I0 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 I8 19 20 21 22 25 E4

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION / CARRIER IABNORMAL MODULATION

• CARRIER ONLY I NO ,SIGNAL <_ COMMAND

FIQURE B8. Ariel I profile, November 1962.

137
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass o _ z 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 _o, _2_3_4_5_61"7_a19202_222324 %
No. Dot.II I I 1 I L [ I I I L I I 1 1 I [ l I ] I L I Su.,igh,
3118 i_I I l Bl II I I • HI Ill•Ill B II Be 1_78
3132 2Ji l B1 ii I g Hi in 11 • i i 1_76
3147 3JI I I II • il ill Ill • n i I I1_ 74
3161 41 I II I • g • mR ill Rill I i III 72
3175 5J I I • • i • • I liilllia i i l B 71

3189 6j I II Rill Ill II lllllll • l Ill II 70

3204 71 I II II, I I I lllllll l l Ill II 69


3218 81 I I Ill I • I • Ill Illl • II III • 68

3232 9 I I Jl Be In Illlll • li • I 68
3247 10 I I II I • I • • il Ill • i I•1 II 67

3261 11 I I nlllili il illlli i in III _67


3275 12 I II 111 • n • •l ill Ilia In 1• • _67
3289 13 II ill liB I • il • • • i II i I _66
3304 14 I Ill Ill • • • lUll i i II I _66
3318 15. l i ill l • in Ill • II i i II II I 66
3332 16_ Bi • • l l mR DR Bill l i I_1 II 66
3347 17 I II • II l II • • I • I • • I !HI II I I 66
3361 18 II III • I • el I I •1 I I,o! Ill l 67
3375 19 | II I I • il I II I I • l Ill il I I 67
3389 20 II l • l • ill ill Ill l i Ill HI I I I 67
3404 21. II • • II II II I i III II I I I -68
3418 22, Illllll l Illlllll l II I 11l_68
3432 23 i me l II II II l II l I I I 11_68
3447 241 Ill I • I el iilllll ii el III I I In _69
3461 25 • • I I I • I Ill Ill • l I II II I I III 69
3475 26 I • I • I el II • • l II I II l 69
3490 27 II • l l • I IIII Ill I Ill l II II I I II II 69
3504 28 l • I II I Ill Ill Ill• I II I I I II 69
3518 291 • l l I III Ill Ill l I II In I I I el 1_69
3533 30 • II I III ill mill I II II I I li l 69
3547 31 i l I I II lillll l • • l l I I in l • _69
I III II
0 I 2 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 I0 II 12 13 14 IS 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 25 24

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION [ CARRIER _ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO SIGNAL _ COMMAND

FIGURE B9. Ariel I profile, December 1962.

138
APPENDIX B SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I Z 3 4 5 6 ? 8 9 I0 II 12 13 14 IS 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 25E4 %
No.
°°'e]t I I 1 t I t t t I I 1 I t 1 t t I t I t I Sunlight

3561 , _| | | _'" ' ' I • = • I1= =. = ' ' 'I 1__69


3575
2 _i n i Ill nun mmmnu mm Durumam mn nn m mm • n m_8
3590
3 _i l a a •l| Inn nn • m"i ii i a I a I • I • N_8
3604
4 { I m u iUl mm m • ii I i I a el in i i_7
3618
5 _i • a i el am inn me me ! i I maRauD I 1_7
3633
61i iN n In•ill i • ii a a illUliI I_6
3647
7tiim•mmuimmimaui _ in mm I in toni• ii_)6
3661
8 _i lnillllml l I Ii a l I lilmlli l m _,,.,6
3675
9 _i I aa gg if i • nn g a II Ilium n l 1116
3690
lOj lilimim • Hi me Hi l mlilllm nan li_5
3704
1, _nnmmm
mnmn /I in Im nn* n-* m- ,, mn ,, n n n _)5
3718
12 r II II I In el II III I I II III I I I I Ilss
3732 13 _I i Ill I I II II In I • I I i II i I I I I _5
3747 14 II III I I• II II I I I • III • I I I 11_5
3761
15 I I • Illl III II I I I • II I • I I I Ili_5
3 775 16 III II1• Illl II II I I I I• I• I • I I _5
3790 17 me In i • I I I • II HI I • I I lI;-65
I
3804 18 II II I l ll I I II II In nl ii --66

3818 19 I ili • I I m In • m• n IIIII _6

3833 20 _III I I II ll II I II lill II In I _7

3847 21 _I • • • I I • • nllln ll lln l _7

3861 22 ill_.I nI am m!.,. man m I I III II I I IIIIII _8

3875 23 I I• uum mm i! nu • • II I • • I III III _9


uvo,_

3890 24 n• in umm un n • I II II I I I I II II JO

3904 25 II II • I I I • IN • I I I ill llI I 71

3918 26 • In II I I m I In • • mi mI Ii I J3
3933 27 • I • I I I • II lI I • I Ill I lliii_75
3947 28 [] Ul n nl I • • I• I • Io,I.I I • I I I _77
3961 29 ai ii u m m • II II I • i n I II I In 80
3976 30 • in in in n | m _._ _ _ _ _ _m•l_i ja a 85
3990 31

[ ]l_| I_ m_ I i • _I_ _ _ _ _ _im_l _I lOO


0 I ?. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 I0 II I;) 1:3 14 IS 16 17 18 19 20 21 222324

COLOR CODE:
• MODULATION / CARRIER _ ABNORMAL MODULATION

• CARRIER ONLY • NO SIGNAL <[ COMMAND


A,S,.SUMED PROPER OPERATION

FIGURE B10. Ariel I profile, January 1963.

139
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I Z 3 4 5 6 7 8 c) 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2324 %
No. I I I I I f
uv ,,_o
I I I I I Son,ig,.
4004 i_ li_ mm Jm I i m _ _ _ _ _ _ 114 _ I@ _1oo
4018 _1oo
2_ _ _ _ _
4033 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _joo
3_ _ _
4047
4_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ .joo
406 ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ lOO
A

4076 _ _ _® _ _ _!_I_ _ _oo J

4090 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __®_ _ _1 lOO


4104 8 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ® _ _#_ _ "4_ _ _ lOO
4119 9 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ 1oo
10
4133 _ _ ® _® _ _ _ _|_ _ _| . 8_
4147 11 _ _ _ _ _ _ I • nlllllI II II I 79

4161 12 II l II II I • I Ill IIII _'" II II 75

72
4176 13 II II In l IJ • • I • II II II II
4190 14. I II II III I • • I IIII II • Ill 70

15 68
4204 I I II l I • • • I IIII II l Ill II
4219 16. I I • II I • I I • II In • II I I 67

4233 IZ I • • • I • l • ll ll • II 66

4247 18 I • II II • Illllll II III II 65

4262 19 I • IN I • I I Illlll II II II I 64

4276 20 • l In II IIIIIl/" II II III I 64

4290 21. I l [] I • • ll• II II I II _ 64

4304 22 I I li II • • I limB II • ill I ..... _ 63

4319 23 I I II IN I I Rill II HI Ill n 63

4333 24 n n • I • • • illU n ii ii iN i 63

4347 25 I • II • n lmll II I II 63

4362 26 I IIlI • • • • l• • ll I _ 64

4376 2Z i • • • • • II I• I• IIIIIIII II __4

4390 28 n • i• • ill•ll• I• II all I I _ 64

0 I 2 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 1819£021 222524-

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION / CARRIER ® ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO _SIGNAL <t COMMAND

FZGURE Bll. Ariel I profile, February 1963.

140
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 1 Z 3 4 5 b 7 8 9 I0 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 J8 19 80 21 8225 24 %
No,
_ateL
I 1 I I _.,j
) I i I ) I I Sunlight

4405 I ) ml I| I |AI|! lj '1 ll II ll 65


4419
2] m ui"nm ii' n_'nmmmm'nm i In n , 66
4433 66
3_m II 11:"" • n'_ilmnnm ,m • nun ,
4447
4_ nmum • • in • • n nun m nm mn 67
4462
5_ imnm • ,m mn • mm nun nm n mm 68
4476
6_mu• i • mum• m• • nun n m m __70
4490
7_ • • • inmm mR • nm u in m mn • __71
4505 8_ m n • mn • • • nunnmn °" m um mm73
4519 74
9_lm i • Ulln In In m Ili nm m u
4533 75
lotn u• • im • u • m• u i nlu l I m mmIN
4548

4562
,,.,= = • ,._=_.,, , _ ,_. ,.,= _6

_7

4576 77

4590 77

4605
157 ) ) ¢ ¢ _ • mm m mm m m um u mm 74
4619 16_m m mm'm mm"m -m nmm- m- -mm- mmmm- 74

4633
171m m mmm m m m mm m mmm - m- - mm- mm-mm m 73
4648 18Jm-m- mmmm m m m n-mm- m- -ram-mm- mmmm- 72
4662 19 • mm mum• m • m iI m mm mm nm mm 70
69
4676 20 • mm mlnm mm • m m n nnmmmm
4691 21iN mm mmmm mm m mum m n mm in u• • _8
m
4705 22) mm mumm mm mm mmm u m n mn mn nm • _67
m
4719 23jmm munro m • • m m n m mm mmm mm • 67
m
4733 24_m mm mn mm • mum m m mm mm mm • m 66
4748 mm mmmm • • 66
25_ mmli • mi m m i•
4762 mm mmmmmm • _5
26_ imm • i• m u ml n
4776 mm mmmm mm • _5
271mmm •ram • m m m mm m
4791 28ram • urn• m m mum m mmmmmm • • _64

4805 m mmnmmm • mm --64

48!9
29_ mnmm
30m mum • u: : ,,, m n,
mum m mmmmmu • mm 64

4834 3,immuremm m mmm m m i ii in ." Nan. _• 64

I
0 I 2 .5 4 5 G 7 8 9 I0 II I_ 13 14 15 16 I'1' 18 1970 _1 2Z2,.'3 24

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION f' CARRIER _ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO SIGNAL <] COMMAND
FTC_R_ B12. Ariel l profile, March 1963.

141
ARIEL l: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME

Pass o , 2 3 + 5 6 7 8 9 ,oH t2_3_4_5_6_ m ,9202_222324 %


No. O°'e'
i I 1 l 1 1 1 1 L I i I i I b I I _un,+_
4848 I II Ill I in • II il
l_llll In I gl I l
4862 II Ill I • • • 111 _64
Ill In+ i II III
4877 II II I mR I • • Ill 64
3_i II i ni l I
4891 Ig II i I i • • •l I I 65
4_ll I e Ill
4905 i li ll I • • el HI 65
5_ • n me Rli I
4919 6]i • i i II i I II liB l am • •l • I

4934 71 • I n II I I II liB I i • HI ill 66

4948 81 • i Ill I I I II I II I _ • •1 III • 66

4962 ol • l II I I II III III • •1 gill I 66

4977 lO I mR II I II IIIIII l • •1 Kill I 67

4991 11_ i II l II III I Inn I • lil Illll ii 68

5005 12_ ii | Ill II I II I II I • • Ill Ill•


5020 13 • DR Ill I III IIII • • II Illl 69
5034 14 l II I II I III III • • • • II • 69
5048 15 li III I IIIIII • • II IIII • 70

5063 16 i IIII I I I li Ill • • •1 ill • • 70


5077 17_ il il I Ill lib • • Hi ill • • 70
5091 18 il l ii I HI l I I • Hi lUll II l 70
5106 19 i ill I II II I • •1 ll l•l l 70
5120 20 l•ll I I Ilil•li el Illi•i i 70
5134 2l I I II I II III I • •1 •llilll i i 69
5148 22 III II III Ill I I l •11 nil• i me _69
5163 23 II I I I • I • • in Ill • • i 69
5177 24 III I I lie i • •i •il• • i • 68
5191 25 I I IIIlll I • il Ill • • • • 68

5205 26 II I In II • II Ill • • • • I 67

5220 27 II I III I• • il lllil • I II I

5234 2E II Illl+l|ll • l lllllll l HI el

5248 2_ I II I I ll • 1 llllll• • l Ill

5263 3( ll I • II • iN ill • I • i i II 66

0 I 2 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 25 24

COLOR CODE
I

• MODULATION t CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION

• CARRIER ONLY • NO _IGNAL _ COMMAND

FICUaE B13. Ariel I profile, April 1963.

142
APPENDIX B-- SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE
GREENWICH MEAN TIME
Pass
o _ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 _o. _2_3_4_5_6_7_ _9202_222324 %
No.
Date I I I I I I J I I I r i EI I I I 1 I I I Sun,g,*
5277
1__ _ _1 Bile am u mn mu!nn!u m Ii Ill 1__66
5291
2_ _ _w m_ e,! a a la mm,ieJ_ im olli men u_6
5306
3 i i I I • U a m i illm |i • • i in m!_oj6
5320 4_ m | | H g | i Hi| aa| a _ _ _| |! 66
5334 5_ | | | | _ | | |a []i [] | _ _ _J_J l_| | 66

5349 6 1_1 II ..... m B a I NeD 111 I al a I HI ]6


5363
7 o_.. Ii li Hi I | | | mill |Di m [] i.o ! I 66
5377
8 | !| I !| | g I I! glal al.,!g i Ill al| 67
5391
9 || gill g g H ..... I HEall all g U III 67
5406
10_ | I I | a I | _ algl l la g It |i ...... 68
5420 11_ i|l |Is | a | i | i i i u i |1 _8
5434
12 nI I | II 11 I ! HI! e aI l [] p e II 69
5449
13_ II. m _v.,i a a [] l • n Hi [] [] nl III ...._ 70
5463
14_ |! ||111al | II ||||llll ! • i mo_.. HI I 31
5477
15.11 |l| | I a | i I i|l moil n HI Hi I I | 73
5492
16.1 all IN [] a n IU.,I |l Nil• n l! Hal Hi 75
5506 1711! |ll a I !1111 IIIII mm me II I I II 1_7
5520 18 II I II I • I III •1 II1• mm mm III I I 1180
5534
19.|alil. oi | | m lama| i i i Hi jl l Ill 85
5549
20 Ill n • I l II i I _ I_ _ _ _ _j 91
5563 2| L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ '"" "_ _ _ _"'_ _.. "
5578 22. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ {_|._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __00
5592 23 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 100
5606
24_] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 100
5620 25_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 100

5635 26_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _OO


5649 27__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _0
5663 28_ @ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ @ _ _ _ _ _ _@ l OO
5678
29__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 89
5692 30_ _ _ _ _ _{ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .,,,'( _ 82
5706

,Ioooooooooo
oooo
oolo
o o oooo ooo
0 I P 3 4 5 6 7 8 ? I0 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 722524

COLOR CODE
/

• MODULATION / CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION


• CARRIER ONLY • NO SIGNAL <_ COMMAND
FIGURE B14. Ariel I profile, May 1963.

143
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I Z 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2324 %
No. ooteI L L I I L L ', I I L II I q Sun,igh,
5720 1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _U liB IIA J5

5735 21| mi I II i ii i ]_ am ii I I I II III I II __72


5749 3l i II Bill ! n I BE l n III IIIII j1
5 763 4. llllll III I l III II I I II I I III I • I 69

5778 5 1 I 11 I I I II I I I I I I 68

5792 6 III II I i III III ii I I I I II I 67

5806 7. III III I IIII I I Illl I I I II III • I I 66

5821 8_ III II1•1 I III II I I II III II I II I 66

5835 9 I I I • II I I I II I I III I • I I 65

5849 10 II III I I [] II 65

5863 aug la i ._ Ig lg l II il II • • liIIIn 65


5878 12 lllll I i Ill II I I II III li I l I i l II 64
5892
134 I I II I • • I II II i I Illl I I I I I I I 64
5906 14 I l I • II l ll In I II II Illl I III II III 64
5921
15!Ill I I• II II II I I I III I I I • I I II 64
5935 16_ II I • II II I I I IIIIIII I • I IIIIII 64
5949 I • I| II Hi l I II I! I II I • I III I 64
5964 181 liB II El l II III I• I I I III III I 65
5978 191 • I I II • III I I I • i III I II II 65
5992 20] II I I l II III II I I II Ill III 65
6007 21J • I El II II II II II I I II I I • I I 65
22J II I I II I In I I_ I _l g .a ;_| i,,-I,,. _65
6021 j
6035i 23J il II II I II | ! IHi B R | I | m m B _ g 66
w_e4

6049 24i i i I I I II li II I I I IlI IIlI | 66

6064 25J l li II I ! I ll.| li I l III • I ! I 66

6078 1 III li I ! II II! l I I i|l ill I i 66


26i
6092 272 II II I I II III I I I il ! I I I I o,.I.I 66

6107 28A il II II I I I I I I I I I I I I II Jill I 67

6121 29 III II II I I I I l II I II i II 67
Uv%,

6135 30 III II II I i • III I II I I I II I Iii II 66

0 I 2 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 18 19E021 2Z 2524

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION f CARRIER ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY [] NO SIGNAL <[ COMMAND

FIGURE B15. Ariel I profile, June 1963.

144
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I ?_ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2324 %

No" Oa'eI I , L L
6150 I 1_|| ,ill [_| °_'iI t B|I Li I En
L F| l I I| L I _ L_E I|
|lJ |• I _F66so°,igh,

6_;,s I 3_i H _a _ lm mm nulm _"m l_tu s_ _ lm ___66


6193( 4q itm _w I ma g'uu Mm_ m roll t_m m Imw ,o_m __65
_o;.I _t_l . _ .i mltmtmll, iit_si t_ _= ._l_

6_501_- _ ......n_ _,_H, n_ _ _m_ _m _ _ .....F6_


6_6_
I ,_ n _ _ _ _._ •_ )nE_ _ _ ._6,

6_o_
I '_t_ _ ii, n __ n _ __ _H _ _ _ i_,

6_6_1 _6_n m mmm unmn • • m_m mnu n nmm nm m___,_

6393I 18 t '' im,l I .i ill | . , I i .I .l i _6_


°,071 1' t iI IiIi I I • IIiIIII iI I_" I I _65

6,_i _o
i . . ,.. ,.. • ,,,,,,• ,• ,, .in . _66
6436 1 21_ I l II II I III_I I In • Ill I _7
o, no ,,,=,= • . . ,, ,, . ,t
_"/ _ " "= • • '"= '' ' " = = ' IJ'
6,,_ / _ . •, • • • In • . . In ,= l F,_
65ozI _n mE i II I • mIJ • it i i in i m i _6
65'_2[ _'_ in Ill ii l Hi iN i i i i i i_51
65_6 / _st • I I Um • mini I rim• m m _un m nn _-_,
65501 29_6 n _!! _ _ gl.I _ !_ ! _ _ __ _ _oo

65z91
/

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION _ CARRIER _ ABN ORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO SIGNAL <t COMMAND

FmURE B16. Ariel I profile, July 1963.

145
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass o _ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ,o H _2_3,4 _5_6,7 J_J9202J222324
No. Do,elI I I I h I I I i I I I I I I I ! [ I 1 I Sun,igh,
/

6593 wJ_N_ _ _ _ _@ _ _ N_ _ _ _ _N __1oo


6608 2_ _ _ _ _ _ _ I• • _l _l _1 zl B,_ lOO
6622 3jib I I glib I• • • I II II _ DO
6636 '=_M _ W _ _ '_ _ _ _ _ _ _1
_ DO
6651 _@_@ _@ _ _ _ _ _ _ DO
J
6665 6_'_ _ _ __@ _ _ @ _ _ _ _ _ @ _1oo
6679 7_ _ _ @_@ _@ _ _ _ _ _ __ lOO
/
6693
8_ _ _ @_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _@ lOO
6708 9_ _ _ _@ _ _ _ _ _ @_ 1oo
6722 I0_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 100

6736 11_ @ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ lOO


6751 12__ _ _ _ _ @_ _ _ _ _ 94

6765 13 _ _ _ _ _ _ _II uu muun mmm_ 84

6779 14 • • • I| I I II I InmlIl• 78

6794 15I I •II • I• I •II I II llI II I 75

6808 16 II IllI • I III I I IIIllI I 73

6822 17 II II I I • II II I I II II I 71

6837 18 • II I• I I I I I I I I II • 69

6851 19 I II I I II II | II II II I II BI I 68

6865 20_ I I I I • • I III I I IIIIIII I _ 67

6879 211 III IlI • I •11 I I I Ill • i __ 66

6894 22_11 • II I • I •11 I I Illili • i 66

6908 23 •11 • • II I I I I I IIBll • I 65

6922 24 IIlI II II III I I I I I II II • • _ 65

6937 2511 • I • • •1 I I I II III III • I _ 65

6951 26_11 I • • •1 I I I I i • HI II _ 65

6965 27 • I • •1 I II I| II I • • • Ill _ 65

6980
281 I • II • I I I I I I _.. • III I_ 6_
6994 29 II • II I •11 I II I I I I II Ii_6_
7008 I 30i II I •11 I I1•1 I • • II •11_6_
7022! 31_ I •11 I I II II III • II •111_ 6_

0 I P 3 4 5 6 _ 8 9 I0 II 12 15 14 IS 16 17 18 19 20 21 E22324

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION CARRIE_ _ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO SIGNAL _ COMMAND
FZGUaE B17. Ariel I profile, August 1963.

146
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TnME


Pass 0 z 3 4 5 6 _ 8
I _o, _2_3_4_5_6_7_819202_2_2s24 %
No.
Date I i I I L I I I_1 i I I I I 1 i I I I i t I Sunlight
7037 __66
1t • • ill i JR in Hi • l l Ill
7051
2t • l i l I l Be RiB i l [] [] ill• I __66
7065 __67
3_l l • l i In RiB li m il URll IR
7080 67
4_i i if ill I R il il i [] il lllil lie
7094
5tall i liB II RiB Bill m • gliB II it 68
7108 6J [] i ill i lib ill I II • • • • 69

7123 7_J n II I I l I II l | BE Ill [] I I I I __70


|

7137 8_1 i ini i I II l in i H il II liB l ___71


/

7151 9_ • HI I I IN l RE l l l In l II i l 72

7166 lOJa
_ in l II In l II i°l -- • Hi l liB In • 72

7180 11_H i l HI In i II l In i i| mR liB li i 73

7194 12 l DR lllllllffi Hi ill Ill i DR 73

7209 13 1 I I II III Ill I IV II III lUll • l __73

7223 14.i liB il liB l l • • • I Ill• i i _ 73

7237 15. HI II lid l i RE • •il lUll • I _ 73

7252 16 ill I II In Ill I I • nnB Ill n l l I __73

7266 17_ J li l i I I l l li i il • • l Ill • • i El 72

7280 18 I II I l l • el Ill it • I nil --71

7294 19. HI iillnli i • im linD Im i mR --71


7309 20_ In In i In l IN i • el Eli • i • i l H --70
7323 21_ II I lille I I • • RE IE ii El El --70

7337 22_ II Ill I • l • • Hi I RiB I I l III _69

7352 23_ I III i II I • • i| •11• U ii |11 __68

7366 24_ I III ill I • li ii Eili • i •nil I __68

7380 25- l In liB l • l aiR lUll • li li il -_$8

7395 26_ l liBRa•DR I • l li • i In l _$7

7409 27_ i I III I I I ill • I • i II 47

7423 28_ II Ill I ie lid i II nile n,, i RIB ---67

7438 29_ In BH l I II • Hi If I li ll I _7

7452 30_ ill -'lRBm Hi mmllili HI il U l __$6


! I
' I i
0 I ;_ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 I0 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 18 197071 Z2 2324

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION / CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY i NO SIGNAL <_ COMMAND

FIGURE B18. Ariel I profile, September 1963.

147
ARIEL h THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I 2 3 4 5 6 '7 8 ? I0 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 25 24 %

l lllZlllll]/lll21111111
7466 1t II I I I i III • Ill l I el • i l al II _66
7481 2_ I I • II I I I I • III • i In II I II _66
7495 3_ I l I i • I I • •l • El • • • n I II _66
7509 4tl II • II • • l • liB l•l ml I iiJ Ill II Bt-_66
7523 5_ Imll•l I I •lli•llllll l• Ill II I I _67
7538 6_ III III Io_I II IIIII II II mR II II I I __67
7552 7_11 IIIII • I • _lllllllll IN I•1 II I I IF 67
7566 8_ I I II • II I • I I ill I I I • II •1 I I i _67
7581 9_111 •!l I l l In l•l IIIII II I• I ill II ! I _67
7595 lo_11i I i ni"m • i • inn ••1 • [] i il mi m i _68
7609 ll_U i in • • i • ohm Ill li • I• IN nl I l a_ 68
7624 12_i Hi III l • ill Ill • I • li Ill Hi l l I!_ 69
7638 13pII l IIl II Ill Ill •11• • Ill II I I II II 69
.]
7652 14tll • • I • il Illl Hill II E [ HI I I II lit 69
7667 15_1 liB l II l•llllll Ilia II Ill II l I II llll 70
7681 16till I U I II Ill Ill • l HI Ill I l II Ill _70
7695 17_11 l • III Ill Ill I II Ill II II I l III l_7l
7710 18_ I • I • I Ill Ill I • Ill In II I I I •1_71
7724 19tll I I II Illlll • II II II I II llllIL71
7738 20_ il I II I Ill I II I II • II Ill II I l II HI l J 71
7752 2ill I • mill lllllll • I II I I II HI l_ 71
7767 22 U • illllillll li •1 II I ! Illlllli__71
7781 23 l II liB Ill l II I I • • I I l I I II I 70
7795 24 • llllll Ill I II JII II I I II III III I 70
7810 25 I • I liD Ill • • HI II II I l II el I l _ 69
7824 26 I I III II l • el I l II l l l I IIl l _ 69
7838 27 II l I In I HI I • • In II I l I l l l I _68
7853 28 IIIII ll III l • liB II I l l ll ll I I 68
7867 29 I • II l II I II I l • l I I I I • I • l I 67
7881 30 • II l III II l l Ill l I I I I • • l I _67
7896 31 II I Hi I II I • I I I I l I l II • • ii Ii 67
J
0 I _ 5 4 5 6 '7 8 9 I0 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 222324

COLOR CODE
II MODULATION / CARRIER @ AI}NORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO ,SIGNAL <_ COMMAND

FIGURE B19. Ariel I profile, October 1963.

148
APPENDIX B SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 2 3 4 _ 6 _ _ 9 io, _213_4_s J6 _7 _ _9202_2223_4 ._,
Date[ I I I I t I I I I I I I I I I { { t ( ( } $ I _oo,T._,
1_11 III III I • III., I II I I I I III [] I ! _66
2_1 III III I II !1 II U I II III I I U I • I ___66

3i111 III I • II I II I , I II I mn I • I I I 1__66


4_11 III I I • II II I I °""1 I III II • I 11__66
5]1 IIIIIII Inml II II I II III I_ II I 111_66

6J III III I . I nm II I I I I I II III [] I • I III i_66


71111 mill u''I ll I El lliI l ll , Ill lI 66
8_n umBra I mu nn u m mn i IN I • Eli II/ 66

9_ I I m I • mE mm I I II IIII[] I I I • I III __66


1oil l| • II ll II I I El I II I I II I III I 166
]t!I I I • BE El HI l El II Ill II I I I|I
12J I I I II II I El i I Ill I II I II II III II 67
13)1 I• il III II I El IIl I • II IIIIIIIl 68

14J I I i III I I I II IIl II I II llIllI III__68


)

l&i I I IH In l II llllI I • IIII III III __69

16JI I III H II II II II I • • llIl IIl I __70


17_ B II In II I I |II II III I I_ II II I II I 72

181 I I|l Ill ilI gl _m_ m_ _ _ _ 74

--76

20_ _ _ _ __79

__84
211 _ _ _
22_ _ _ _ __97

23_ _ _ I_ I I iam_m_i_ mmnmmmi m l I_I/00


24_ III II II i) iI_{l) i ) ) I_ll|l l | _00

25-J lilI li II I @)),,_) ) I )I i IIi • I_00


26/ III II II I II mlI | I • m| I)Im6Im) I)) )I _00
27_I II II I H m) Ira) I ) )) I),_Im) II) m)) )mi 100

28_ II II I I_ I) m)) I ) ) )mI ) II)) HI ) _100

29_ I I I I_ 100
II I I) rm_m_)I_ _I_ _ l))Joo
It
0 I _ 3 4 5 6 7 8 ? I0 II I_ 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 _021 ZZ _:5_4

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION / CARRIER @ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY IN0 8IGNAL <t COMMAND

FIGURE B20. Ariel I profile, November 1963.

149
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME

Pass o _ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 io, _2_314_ _6i_ i_ _9202_2_2324 %


No. Da'e'I I I i l 1 L I I I I I I l I I I ] i ] I I L Sunlight
I00
8339

8354
_lOO

8368 3 _ _ _ _ _® _ _ _ ®_i ® ® _ _ _ 89
41_ _ _ _® _ L_ _ __'_ _ I_ I1_ 81
8382
51 _ I _ I_ li_l _ _ IS • II if Ill il_ 76
8397

o_ _ In i ii I • ll lUll In el B_i__. i _3
8411
7JR liB Bin l l i • • I In HUB l • li liB l _0
8425
8J I I li lii • el illl li • II II _9
8440

8454 9] l ll Ill If • li li B• II ll In I 67

8468 10/i l ,i i 1. _ _ lilii il • ill i, , 66


<j <.J

8483 11J in in I i • I •ll l l l In II i --65

8497 12J l i in I i I i i • ll • i II ill In i _5

8511 13J il il il i • l Bin nil i I In l


8526 14j l II li I l • lib I il •• l In _64

8540 15j l in il • • Belie Re ll liB l _64

]6j | |l li ii • • i lUll • • inn l I _63


8554

8569 17JR BiB in nil • • iilI lI • ill l l I _63

8583 ]8J il in Ill • i RiB i R• ll II II l l __63

8597 19ill In i i • ii nUll l l • Ul il I l __63

8611 20J l Illi • • _"nllI I I I I I 63

8626 21_ I I I l l |l I I I II l l _4

8640 22' i i • I I ni • l l i 1_4

8654 23. l I In I ll il lliliHi Re H Ill l II l I __4

24_ Bill • • IliUm IN • nil i i li - 65


8669

8683 25_ mR I • • i il l ii • liB l In l l ll _5

8697 26- li in • Hi • I l • Hi I l l l ll II -_5

8712 27_ l • I liB li am l In l l l lll --66

8726 28- l I I lUll Be • I l l l l I --66

8760 29- • I • il liB • ll ll In liB l ll l ll __66

8755 30. l If l lllllll l • [] liB l ll II li __67

8769 31. i • llllll • I l • liD I I l III I _67

0 I _ 5 4 5 6 _ 8 9 10 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 222524

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO 6IGNAL _ COMMAND

FIGURE B21. Ariel I profile, December 1963.

150
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFI.LE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I Z 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 I0 II 12 13 14 IS 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2524 %
No. Oaee'
I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I ] I I 1 I I 1 I Son,,..
8783 1_i [] I []ll[] li n ill i n lllill 67

8798 67
2_ [] i [] l[] l I [] []mR I _ l HI im •
8812 66
3_6 R mill l l ! ni l l °"_l I l i i
8826 66
4_n [] ml [] l[] miD mE ill I In BE I ]
8841 66
5_ i illi In l I III i I i II I m
8855 65
6t l ll _ l [] II l I| RE l []
8869 65
7_ i 311[]lie ....[] HI III I II I mm I n
8884 65
8_ El ill[]] I [] i []11 I I IIIII [] I
8898 65
911i []ll_,l[] [] ml I In lnmli •
8912 1o_ [] roll[] 1 aB i []l l li In [] • 64

8927 11_1 I III III • • I In Ill• g 64


1
8941 64
1211 I1! ! ![] I I I I II I I •
8955 64
13_ I i l[] l II o..o, | In I • [] I
8969 64
14_liI []II[] • • |iI l l RE [] • i il
8984 64

8998
15_II ill[] • • ill . i I I el I I i • • ill 64
16_ inn In I mumn_'"i ni nero m [] inn
9012 64
17t•ll[] l m i. [] l IN IN l i
9027 64
18_ In li m ..... • i i• II [] i i •
9041 64
19_11_ I [] ii in []IS In In l i n m []1
9055 In I{ I • | I I :Ill 65

9070
20I" l• i mI i:I I I! Iil II [] I I • 66
21rl [] n n
9084 I II I I InI I I I Ill 66

9098 22 _u • mu i mmmm I N I III I i l l [] 67

9113 2423_um
[][] ill :in u,*r_
ILl at • l l • 68

9127 25 -] II I II I I l liB Ill • l II 69

9141 26 J n I I I II In II I • I 71

9156 27 J I minim l • l el l i 73

9170 28 _J I I II In In l l l i 75

78
9184 29 I II i nimbi [] i_ • m
9199 30 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ......................................
j. ................ _ ,,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 83
9213
311 _ _ _ I I _ _ i _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _89

0 I g 5 4 5 6 7 8 q I0 il 12 15 14 IS 16 l? 18 19 20 21 82 23 24

COLOR CODE
[] MODULATION / CARRIER _ ABNORMAL MODULATION
[] CARRIER ONLY [] NO SIGNAL _ COMMAND

FICURg B22. Ariel I profile, January 1964.

151
A.RIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I Z :5 4 5 6 ? 8 9 I0 II 12 1,5 14 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 2:524 %
No. l(lli(llll •••Ill(•(Ill( Sunlight

9227 I_ _ _ _ _ _# _ _ _ _ I00

9242 2 _ _ _ _ _ _ _1 l_ l_m_ l I00

9256 3 [] Ill II ill [] ml lllll [] [] 100

9270 4 ii ili _i _i_ _ _a _mi _i_ 100

9285 5 _ _ _ ) _ I i i • a ill_ i IO0

9299 6 I I in _ I _ _] _i _I _ _ 97

9313 7 [] _ I_l_i_ _ _ _I@ _ 88

83
9328 8 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ® n_ g_ _ _
79
9342 9 ) _ __ ) )_ ) _ _ ) ) ()_ ) )_ ) [] []11_
9356 lO IN )]1 iN In n • n mmmm • m im" 76
9370 11 In mmmmmm [] m • mm mmmmm • m mm 74
9385 12 III I III I II I • Ul • Imllm m m • 72

9399 13 ii i Ii i i• i ILl I II I I I I m II 71

9413 14 I I II II II I • [] • • III [] mm mmml 69

9428 15 I I llnliilmmlm lm im • • m •, 69

9442 16 II II III I l I • il III1_ l ml I 68

9456 17 I III I • I • •1 II1•1 • • mm III _67

9471 18 II Ill mmmm • mm mmlmmmm mmmi mmm 67


9485 19 im mlm mmmm • m [] mm • mm mm mm m 66
66
9499 20 m mlm m• m• mm II•i iN mm m mmm,m
9514 21. m mml m mn m ml • • I mmml i I mmu,Y'_o Nil II _ 66

9528 22_ m m mm [] [] •in m [] [] m • m _66

9542 23 ! I mmlllll I i I I I).i m_ [] _ IIII I|i _ 66

9557 24 ! l|i ml l [] mmmnmmin m n ml n _66

9571 25 II II [] II II m[]l III I i mml III I 66

9585 26. l mm
ml n Imm
m [] ml ill [] lm m m m l l l l 66

9600 66
27. m IIII I1• • ml i iiii iIm Im mm I
9614 66
28_ II I o).11 I II I ml B II [] []1 III Im iii iii i i......
9628 29_ ii i ii I Ii i • roll [] i I i ml iii i 66

0 I _ :5 4 5 6 _ 8 9 I0 Ii 12 1:5 14 IS 16 17 18 19 20 21 _22:524

COLOR CODE
• MOOULATION / CARRIER _ ABNORMAL MODULATION

• CARRIER ONLY • NO 51GNAL _ COMMAND

FIGURE B23. Ariel I profile, February 1964.

152
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH ME.AN TIMF.


Pass o _ z 3 4 _ 6 7 s 9 _o_r J2_3_4t5 _6_-_J_19202_2223_4 %
No. Da,e,I I I I I I I I I I I I I P I I I I Sun,_*
9643 1_1 I | | || | | ||1 I ii | | II |i El || i | _7
9657 2_] | | I || ov.U •|| I|| ,_ill 8 U _| li I | __67
9671 3J|u..,_j | a H | |1 It|| a II || | m l!! E| | _ |_68
9686 41 II III I II IIIIIII III I D H| l| J II IN 68
9700 5ill| i|| I| MII •11 Ill I • I I I I I l_ 69
9714 6jI •i | • | I | • I I • n |1 I I I BI_ 69
9729 7i II I I II I III Ill I I E II u I n I 70
9743 8111 BB I •illllll I • nil II l I Ill_ 7o
9757 9_Ii I i i In Ill n i • il • • ii il i l HI 71
9771 1o11 1 I I • IIllllllll • II I I II I I llIll 72
9786 111I n • llInlliI InIl Ii II in I I Illi 73

12_11 • m| | H || ! IJ | I _ lUE I I I I I I 73
13i I I Illl Ill Ill I I • II II i I Ill I I 74
14 I I II I I | ; || | | g| W! || | i | i| I I __74

15_11_ l I III I II I II • II, I III II i 74


16/| | Jl S S_I l|g ll| • g _ |_ l l II II l • 74
171 l I I IIIII I I IIl I Ill II I I II I I I • _ 73
181 II I [] IolII l II I • I_ || | _ _ _ _ • I 73

191i _ || |11 III I ..I.,_ Ul II I _ _| _| _ _ | 72


201 |_|_ |li||| _ _ III II II I II Illl I I I 71
21J_ iI_ _ll ill i [] _ _a i! _o,.,ooI _nn i II • i__70
22_ i ||1 |ii | | S| I| || o_.l I II I|l _ i __70
I

24 _|| _|l||| _ _ _m| _1 I ..... 68

26_| | | _ | | | _| ...... I I II • | 67
/

27_| _| _|| ; | ...... In I l 66


28_| | _| _ _ Ilol,,_ II II I I1 __66
2' t | 8 _ o_.,,,I I I I I |_ |||B ! | i 66

3o]_| _l_ _ _ i _1 |I. U I ll|ll| | | | ! 65

100721
31_ _ il_ _i | | il_ |i I I l I I II |g | ! | Nil 65
|
0 I ?. 5 4 5 6 "/ 8 9 I0 II I;:) 13 14 15 16 IT 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

COLOR CODE.
• MODULATION / CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION
[] CARRIER ONLY ffi NO SIGNAL <_ COMMAND

FIGURE B24. Ariel I profile, March 1964.

153
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH TiME
MEAN
Pass o I 2 3 4 5 6 "r 8 :_ Io, 12_3_415_6_7J_19aoa 22a524 %
Oa'eI I J 1 ] I )) i I I I I I J J ] I JJ I ,he
No.

10087

10101

10115
a_nun i in li nI nu i nlnuiun •nm nnini
10130
41., ,_'"• .. .i , . I, ,.i ,,,. ,, = ,, .
10144

10158

10173 7_III I II II II I II II II I"ll m II


10187
8i I. ,II II II I I "",, IiImi'Ii , i
10201
9_I I I ..... I II I
I I I I II II
10216 lOJ i i l °'"11 II I I I i I • I I!1 II
10230 11J II II II I I I I 11 I II I I II I IIII I II
10244 12 • ii ii II II I I I I • I I Iffill III I
10258 13J I Hi ii I! I I I I • i [] |•11•11 I I
vv.,_

10273 14j El ! II I I ll • HI El I
10287 154 El I I I I I IIH II II II II
10301 16 II I I I II II
10316 17 I IlI I I • II II I II I II I
1033( 18 III I I II I Ill [] I II ill|l •
1034_ 19] II II I I I II IN • I • I II •
10359 2oJI I I I I I III I I II I I
10373 21Jl II II II II ll I • • I II llll I I
10387 22J | I II I I • III III [] III I I ! I I III
vv'_Z

10402, 23_! I II I II I II I • lll•ll I I • I


/
10416 24JI II II I III I I [] IIIIII I I I • I!
u,o,_

10430 25 li i I• • III II I II I• IIIIII II • UI


1
10445 I I II I I I I I I I I II I II
26_I II l
10459 I I II I II • llllill I I • II III
27_1 I
10473 28J I I I I I
II II I II .... • • II • I I
10488 29_1 I I II I II II II IllIll I I [] II
10502 30J I II II II IlI II IIIlIII II [] I I
J

COLOR CODE
[] MODULATION / CARRIER _ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO SIGNAL _ COMMAND

FIGURE B25. Ariel I profile, April 1964.

154
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass

No.
o _ 2 3 4 5 6 _ 8 9 _o, _2_s_415_6_7J__92021222s24 %
°°'e I I P
.....I I I ; I I I r I I I I I I I I P I I su°,,_,,
10516 1_ l El Ill I millime In n II
uv.J_ II _64
1053 2 II In iN IN il i IDLED iN [] Ul Il __64
1054 3 I I l l i nu i i I mn Ill II II II 64
10559 4 I I ill i li HI Ill Ill I • II II I 64
10574 5 I In I Hi I • l I El g II I I I II 63
10588 b- i II i II III El g I I I I g I __63
10602 7_ I I • i I I Ell I I I II I 64
1061 8_ II II III II I I IIIE I g • III g 64
1063 II II IIl I • [] IN uv-_o,If !1 |1 [] III l ! 64
1064_ lO_ n i n_._|i, -- i i lille I [] li II i
uv*Zoz
I 64

1066_ 11- il ii I I l I II Ill[] In I III Ii ! __65


uv, zo4

1067, 12_ | || [] I i llil i I [] IIl IN n


u_• 2_5
66
1068_ 13_ i I
I IN II .....
I [] Ilia IINI II [] I _66
1070; 14_ ii Ill I [] • []iiiili I I [] i | I I 68
10711 15.
In I il I []1 l Ill []lllolol ! I I I _ 69
1073 _ 161 II i i io_._,o[] ill• i I i ! i I l _71
1074( 17J ..,,, [] II In g liND in i |1 I ii __73
1076( 18 ira
• INN N i il i l II N i II 77
1077, 19 u n n u n II ! i [] II II i i 82
I078_ 20
i ! i [] [] il P II • E n_ n 93
1080: 2_ _ _ _ il_ n JO0
1081; 2 21 _l I _|n_ n _i _I n _ n_ _K JO0
1083_ 23_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ JJ30
1084_ 24__ _ _ _ _ _ _ JO0
1086( 25_ _ _ _ _ 100
1087_ 26-_ _ _ _ _ _ _LO0
1088_ 27. _ _ _ _ _ O0
10903 28_ _ _ _ _ IO0
1091E 29__ ® _ _@ _ IO0
10932 !O0
10946 31 N N N 100

0 I _' 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 I0 il IE I_f 14 15 16 17 18 19 _0 21 727324

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION / CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY m NO _SIGNAL <_ COMMAND

FIGURE B26. Ariel I profile, May 1964.

155
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Puss o _ z 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 _o. _2_s_4 _s_6_7 a8r9 20a 22 2s24 %
No. I I I I i I I I I I i I I I I q I I I I I I _un,igh
10961 _-90
10975 _ _ _ ) I mm mi mi n ._82

10989 II [] [] lg • I IN m m i Rim mm i _7

11004 • Illlg HI l g l I mm mmim i • _74

11018 []l []l g • [] BIN l i immmm [] 72

1032 II II I I I I II m i ill•i• • _0

1047 I •11 I I I [] III I l li ni IN • l 69

1061 I III • I I II II I l II I1• lid [] m 68

1075 !mmm mI m.,.m I I II am m I 67

1090 Ill l l l l i m mmmmmnm am a __ 66


1104 Ig In m mR I m I mmmmm m,m mn m 66
1118 BI D [] mm ml mmm[] |i m mm 65
11132 Ill m m I I I mm •Immm | m
t 65
1147 in [] i I mmmnmi !i i mm mm_ 65
1161 • m gl I m
mmm mm mm [] mm m 65

1175 Ill l l • I!
uv'_,,
l Ii u [] [] m! mm 65
1190 I • II II III mm mmm [] m [] [] mmm m 65
1204 II I I II I immmlm mm mm i - 65
1218 IN l [] Ill m mm Ill i am mm ml . 65
1233 [] I II I l II lm m [] i II l 65

1247 I !_.,. II I m II • i i Ill [] 65


11261 [] [] [] m I1 I [] l| Hi! [] I 65
11276 I m I• I !! • li m Ill•
vv "21,
Im 66
11290
24._ mm m mm I HI IIli I Illlll • l - 66
11304 25. i l Ill
I IN l Io.I m m ill ill m _6

11319 26 • I 1 ml l l ml Ill l -66


11 333 27 • IN I l i m [] • ml ill • l _7
11 347 28 mm ml I 1 I miimi [] im mum• • _7

11362 29 m ml l m Ill l IN [] mm mmmm iN ii _7


I ] 37( 30 • mi IN l IN l ll 1 l •l mill II • IN _ 67

0 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 LAST
PASS
COLOR CODE #I 139,
I

• MODULATION f CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION


• CARRIER ONLY • NO ,SIGNAL q COMMAND

FmU_¢E B27. Ariel I profile, June 1964.

156
APPENDIX B--SATELLITE PERFORMANCE PROFILE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass 0 I 2 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 222324 %
No. ,,ga,e I I P r ] i i t ] I I I [ r i J I i t t i i ,!.... ._un,,,-,,
12,781 2s_mnnnnnn nmmmm . a i 1,1ml ••roll i I_65
'_1'_I _+_,...,, = ,+.. I m a +, +. +ll ¢i, ,,,,,•,_+_
'_'I _'I'" ' w. ,m [] = .... a ii .• I i t I I ii _,

1227'I '_ an lu in • t, nlq,,Im• ._anlUl ,__66


'=='=1 =4' ' I, .- i ..... _"; ,• ,m m• ,,,•Rill,, s_
123211 4_ li Iii B | | n ml I in I m || ua l Ill u_67
,23,51 5_ • ., . , u ,i, •, i_i• ram,J,i, _
,._,:,5o
I 61u _n n, u u •, ii..., ®___,|, ,,, ,L_,

12,o71 I•mmmn uu .
lO_i a u_ • u nun _uo_°'k , In_,a
12_2_
I ,;_n nm m .,,m nn mmumnun_um [] aunnml_ u m_,a

'2a501 '3_/ l • m m raring.me m nmnmmnmn n n_75


'="'I ,_],n in . . in ,• • • m?,.•, |ii .lu_6

,2_,,I ,51._ 4 _ _, ..urn.,•, • •_,¶_ , , m____6


1z493j 16_ _ _ _ _, nunu •, mu • m_ n_ u u • iiJs
12507] 17_ = . ' " Iml.._= • au • . .m ran, u_mL,,
125211 'einll" i- il .llni",=, • . II n | -l,n _73
_25a_i ]_Jl I In II" m i • • .•I • i I _°' II _72
,255oI 2o_,m u m m mm,mm,n • =, .n m , uum q_z,
125_51
_,p_, n mn n,m•m • ,,,.,,,. n, m,,,_ m l_,o
_257_
I 22_m I m unmu n • mm • mum• nunm m nn m m° n _
12>9aI :'aim ; --m,mmmn • .uun m,n i m u ,m mumm _
12_°e I 2a I NN nu male•Hi • • miu|m m i ilk n---_7
' / 1
O I ?. :3 4 5 6 7 8 ? 10 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 _22324

COLOR CODE
• MODULATION / CARRI ER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION
• CARRIER ONLY • NO ,SIGNAL <_ COMMAND

FIGURE B28. Ariel I profile, August-September 1964.

157
ARIEL I: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE

GREENWICH MEAN TIME


Pass

No. Da,e I I 1 1 I I I I I I I 1 I I I 1 1 1 1 [ 1 11 Sun, ,


12622 ! EPT 25_ I II El I BB I • • • l• I| I | U In • __65
12636 26 II l l Ill [] • [] I• Ill I I [] III II 1__65
12650 271 I I II II I I I • []111 I l I Ul I 1__65
12665 28i | II II II I • • • III I I .... I • I II II 64
12679 29 d
12693 30_ -II- l I l I • I •I []I I I I II l'lll ll I _64
12708 DCT 1 I •l ll•• BB • • l•ll• l l ,. [] I• • I __64
12722 2 II l lll I • • • I •II l I _'[] I•I [] ll 1 63
12737 3 i ll l I i • i ill[] l l • Ill ll I _63
12752 4 l I []l I I • i [] I i-'*" l l [] I I II • l 63

12766 5_ I .. HI H • I • I • l i l • In In HI l _64
12780 6_ m_"'g|!el i l • I • i i • I am m morn |m n m 1__64
12795 7 i| I _m _ | • l°i' i l • I m m !m mm......
i i| 64

12809 8 in ill am •_ ll In IN ii ini'il i _ i i n 65


12823 9 II II • • • li II I I1'_1 II II I1-11 65

12838 10_ ill i i i • l • l l • l II I II II I i - 66


12852 11_ II l I • • • m• l l l [] n HI l il ll I II I 66
12866 12. III I • • • I• I I I l • II II I I I _67
12881 13 III I • •1 • I[] • III I III II I I II 68
12895 14. III I II • I III I I • • I I I I I II 1_69
12909 15- III I • nl • I[] • • III • I II II •-70
12924 16. I i • I • l[] l [] [] Ill I I l I I 11_71
12938 17. i • • • I• • • •1 II II II II _-71
12952 18_ HI I i • [] • II I I II I I II _-72
/
12967 19. i l • im • i [] • m m In i I in I _L72
/

12981 20- I • • •11 B II I I I II I I II II I I I I I I II II ' _72


12995 21_ l • Ul J l [] I l [] II II I I I I B |__72

13010 22_ I I •1 •11[] I_ p I|11 I I I II III I _71


13024 23. I Ul Jill li • I•1 I I II II Illl _71
13038, 24 i Hi ilia l [] • [] u I i u mR • n 70
I II ] I I II /111
0 I 2 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 25 24

* TOTAL _w_TAeES COLOR CODE


u_uoiNe 2o uv'S (LS'nMAt_O) [] MODULATION / CARRIER @ ABNORMAL MODULATION
FoR.O.-mN,TOS_O_mOD m_
7/,/_ TOe/_W
[] CARRIER ONLY [] NO 81GNAL _ COMMAND
[] O STADAN CONFLICT5 f,,_'o,,Rt=')L._mS.,_l==T,O.=

FZGURE B29. Ariel I profile, September-October 1964.

158
er U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1966 0--2;_3-Z70

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