Meteoroid Technology Satellite

Meteoroid Technology Satellite
	Design of MTS.
Mission type	Research of meteoroids
Operator	NASA[1]
COSPAR ID	1972-061A[2]
SATCAT no.	6142[3]
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	Langley Research Center
Launch mass	90 kg (200 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	13 August 1972, 15:10 UTC[4]
Rocket	Scout D-1 S184C[4]
Launch site	Wallops LA-3A[4]
End of mission
Decay date	2 November 1979[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Eccentricity	0.02259[2]
Perigee altitude	496 km (308 mi)[2]
Apogee altitude	814 km (506 mi)[2]
Inclination	37.7°[2]
Period	97.80 minutes[2]
Epoch	14 November 1971[2]
	Explorers

Meteoroid Technology Satellite (also called as MTS or Explorer 46) was a NASA satellite launched as part of Explorers program.[5] MTS was launched on August 13, 1972 on Wallops Flight Facility, with a Scout-D rocket. The objectives of the MTS were to measure the meteoroid penetration rates in the bumper-protected target, and to obtain data on meteoroid velocity and flux distribution. The central hub of the satellite was 3.20 metres (10.5 ft) long and carried the velocity and impact experiments. Bumper targets extended from the satellite, giving it an overall width of 7.015 metres (23.02 ft).[2]

MTS reentered in the atmosphere on November 2, 1979.[3]

Instruments

Multi-sheet bumper, 7 metres (23 ft) across, its detectors filled with gas, to register and telemeter loss of pressure;
12 box-shaped velocity detectors at various locations along the spacecraft;
Impact flux detectors, with 64 detectors to assess the population of very small particles.[2]

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References

"Explorer 46/MTC". Space Encyclopedia. Claude Lafleur. 2010. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
"Meteoroid Technology Satellite". NSSDC Master Catalog. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Retrieved 19 June 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
"EXPLORER 46 (MTS)". n2yo.com. 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
"Letter dated 27 October 1972 from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General". (72-22115). UNOOSA. 1972-11-08. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2018.

External links

Satellite, Explorer 46: Meteoroid Technology Satellite, Backup. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

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[1] "Explorer 46/MTC". Space Encyclopedia. Claude Lafleur. 2010. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2018.

[nssdc-2] "Meteoroid Technology Satellite". NSSDC Master Catalog. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Retrieved 19 June 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[n2yo-3] "EXPLORER 46 (MTS)". n2yo.com. 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2018.

[jonathan-4] McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 19 June 2018.

[5] "Letter dated 27 October 1972 from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General". (72-22115). UNOOSA. 1972-11-08. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2018.