Explorer 13

Explorer 13

Explorer 13 (S-55A)
Operator	NASA
Harvard designation	1961 χ1
SATCAT no.	180
Website	1961-022A[1]
Mission duration	3 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	GSFC
Launch mass	86 kg (190 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	August 25, 1961, 19:26 (1961-08-25UTC19:26) UTC[2]
Rocket	Scout X-1
Launch site	Wallops LA-3
End of mission
Last contact	August 28, 1961 (1961-08-29)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Eccentricity	0.07392[1]
Perigee altitude	125 km (78 mi)[1]
Apogee altitude	1,164 km (723 mi)[1]
Inclination	37.7°[1]
Period	97.5 minutes[1]
Epoch	August 25, 1961[1]
Instruments
Instruments Cadmium Sulfide Cell Micrometeorite Detector Copper Wire Micrometeroite Detector Pressurized Cell Micrometeorite Detector Impact Detection Grid Detectors
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Explorer 13 (also called S-55A) was an United States satellite launched as part of the Explorers program on August 25, 1961 from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, U.S.

Weighing 187 pounds, including its fourth stage and transition section, its objective was to test the performance of a scout vehicle and its guidance system and to investigate the nature and effects of space flight on micrometeoroids. Its payload was a 76 inches x 24-inch cylinder, almost covered by five types of micometeoroid impact detectors, two transmitters, solar cells and nickel cadmium batteries. Its orbit was lower than planned and the satellite re-entered on August 27,1961.

Its Orbital Elements: Apogee 722 statute miles; Perigee 74 statute miles; Orbital Period 97.5 minutes.^[3]

Mission

Explorer 13 was injected into a geocentric orbit of moderate eccentricity using a Scout launch vehicle. The objectives of the flight were to test vehicle performance and guidance and to investigate the nature and effects of micrometeoroids on the spacecraft systems. The scientific instrumentation consisted of cadmium sulfide-cell, wire-grid, piezoelectric, pressurized-cell, and foil-type micrometeoroid detectors.

The spacecraft was a 1.93 m × 0.61 m (6.3 ft × 2.0 ft) cylinder. The orbit was lower than planned, and the spacecraft reentered the atmosphere on August 28, 1961, after only slightly more than 2 days in orbit. No penetrations were recorded by this satellite during experiment operations. This aided in determination of useful flux limits for subsequent experiment design.

References

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