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ESSA-1

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ESSA-1
ESSA 1
Mission typeWeather satellite
OperatorESSA/NASA
COSPAR ID1966-008A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.1982
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerRCA Astro
Launch mass304 kilograms (670 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch dateFebruary 3, 1966, 07:41:23 (1966-02-03UTC07:41:23Z) UTC[2]
RocketDelta C
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17A
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
DeactivatedJune 12, 1968 (1968-06-13)[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Semi-major axis7,115.60 kilometers (4,421.43 mi)
Eccentricity0.0083082
Perigee altitude685 kilometers (426 mi)
Apogee altitude803 kilometers (499 mi)
Inclination97.94 degrees
Period99.56 minutes
EpochDecember 7, 2013, 20:11:52 UTC[4]

ESSA-1 (or OT-3) was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).

Launch

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ESSA-1 was launched on February 3, 1966, at 07:41 UTC. It was launched atop a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft had a mass of 304 kilograms (670 lb) at the time of launch. ESSA-1 had an inclination of 97.91°, and an orbited the Earth once every 100 minutes. Its perigee was 702 kilometers (379 nmi) and its apogee was 845 kilometers (456 nmi).

ESSA-1 had a similar design to that of the TIROS satellite series. It was an 18-sided right prism, measuring 107 centimeters (42 in) across opposite corners and 56 centimeters (22 in). It had a reinforced baseplate, which carried most of the subsystems and a cover assembly (hat). ESSA-1 had approximately 10,000 1-cm by 2-cm solar cells, which charged 21 nickel–cadmium batteries. ESSA-1 was designed to take pictures of daytime cloud cover, record them, and transmit them when it was in range of a ground acquisition station.

The satellite spin rate and attitude were determined primarily by a magnetic attitude spin coil (MASC). The MASC was a current-carrying coil mounted in the cover assembly. The magnetic field induced by the coil interacted with that of the Earth's magnetic field, and provided the necessary torque to maintain a desired spin rate of 9.225 revolutions per minute (rpm). Five small solid-fuel thrusters mounted on the baseplate provided a secondary means of controlling the spin rate.

ESSA-1 operated normally until October 6, 1966, when the camera system failed. The spacecraft was fully deactivated on May 8, 1967, after being left on for an additional period of time for engineering purposes.

References

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  1. ^ "ESSA 1". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  3. ^ "ESSA". NASA Science. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  4. ^ "ESSA 1 (OT-3) Satellite details 1966-008A NORAD 1982". N2YO. December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from ESSA 1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved March 5, 2009.

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