Explorer 49
NASA satellite of the Explorer program / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Explorer 49 (also called Radio Astronomy Explorer-2, RAE-B) was a NASA 328 kg (723 lb) satellite launched on 10 June 1973, for long wave radio astronomy research. It had four 230 m (750 ft) X-shaped antenna elements, which made it one of the largest spacecraft ever built.[4]
Quick Facts Names, Mission type ...
Names | RAE-B RAE-2 Radio Astronomy Explorer-2 |
---|---|
Mission type | Radio astronomy |
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1973-039A |
SATCAT no. | 06686 |
Mission duration | 4 years and 2 months (achieved) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Explorer XLIX |
Spacecraft type | Radio Astronomy Explorer |
Bus | RAE |
Manufacturer | Goddard Space Flight Center |
Launch mass | 330.2 kg[1] |
Dimensions | 92 cm (36 in) diameter and 79 cm (31 in) high |
Power | 25 watts |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 10 June 1973, 14:13:00 UTC |
Rocket | Thor-Delta 1913 (Thor 581 / Delta 095) |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral, LC-17B |
Contractor | Douglas Aircraft Company |
Entered service | 10 June 1973 |
End of mission | |
Destroyed | September 1977 |
Last contact | August 1977 [2] |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Selenocentric orbit[3] |
Periselene altitude | 1,053 km (654 mi) |
Aposelene altitude | 1,064 km (661 mi) |
Inclination | 55.70° |
Period | 221.17 minutes |
Moon orbiter | |
Orbital insertion | 15 June 1973, 07:21 UTC [2] |
Instruments | |
Impedance Probe Rapid-Burst Receivers Step Frequency Radiometers | |
Explorer program |
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