OV1-1

OV1-1
	OV1-1 satellite
Mission type	Earth science
Operator	USAF
COSPAR ID	1965-F01
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	General Dynamics
Launch mass	100 lb (45 kg) (satellite); 189.2 lb (85.8 kg) with Altair
Start of mission
Launch date	21 January 1965 21:34:54 UTC
Rocket	SM-65D_Atlas
Launch site	Vandenberg 576-B-3[1]
	Orbiting Vehicle

Orbiting Vehicle 1-1 (COSPAR ID: 1965-F01, also known as OV1-1), was the first satellite in the OV1 iteration of the United States Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle program. OV1-1 was an American Earth science research satellite designed to measure radiation, micrometeoroid density, and magnetic fields in orbit. Launched 21 January 1965, the mission resulted in failure when, after a successful launch of its Atlas booster, OV1-1's onboard Altair motor failed to fire.[2]^:419

History

In the early 1960s, the US Air Force initiated an effort to reduce the expense of space research. Satellite production was standardized to improve reliability and cost-efficiency. The research satellites would fly on test vehicles or be piggybacked with other satellites. In 1961, the Air Force Office of Aerospace Research (OAR) created the Aerospace Research Support Program (ARSP) to request satellite research proposals and choose mission experiments. The USAF Space and Missiles Organization created their own analog of the ARSP called the Space Experiments Support Program (SESP), which sponsored a greater proportion of technological experiments than the ARSP.[2]^:417

The OV1 series was originally designed as adaptations of the 2.7 m "Scientific Passenger Pods" (SPP), which, starting on 2 October 1961, rode piggyback on suborbital Atlas missile tests and conducted scientific experiments during their short time in space. General Dynamics received a $2 million contract on 13 September 1963 to build a new version of the SPP (called the Atlas Retained Structure (ARS)) that would carry a self-orbiting satellite. Once the Atlas missile and ARS reached apogee, the satellite inside would be deployed and thrust itself into orbit. In addition to the orbital SPP, General Dynamics would create six of these satellites, each to be 3.66 m (12.0 ft) long with a diameter of .762 m (2 ft 6.0 in), able to carry a 136 kg (300 lb) payload into a circular 805 km (500 mi) orbit.

Dubbed "Satellite for Aerospace Research" (SATAR), the series of satellites were originally to be launched from the Eastern Test Range on Atlas missions testing experimental Advanced Ballistic Re-Entry System (ABRES) nosecones. However, in 1964, the Air Force transferred ABRES launches to the Western Test Range, causing a year's delay for the program. Moreover, because WTR launches would be into polar orbit as opposed to the low-inclination orbits typical of ETR launches, less mass could be lofted into orbit using the same thrust, and the mass of the SATAR satellites had to be reduced.[2]^:417

Spacecraft design

The standard OV1 satellite, 1.387 m (4 ft 6.6 in) long and .69 m (2 ft 3 in) in diameter, consisted of a cylindrical experiment housing capped with flattened cones on both ends[3] containing 5000 solar cells producing 22 watts of power. Two .46 m (1 ft 6 in) antennae for transmitting telemetry and receiving commands extended from the sides of the spacecraft. 12 helium-pressurized hydrogen peroxide thrusters provided attitude control.[2]^:418

OV1-1 weighed 100 lb (45 kg)[4] , 189.2 lb (85.8 kg) with its Altair booster.[5]

Experiments

OV1-1's seven experiment package was designed to measure micrometeoroid density, cosmic radio noise, electron density variations, magnetic fields, proton concentrations, and Earth-based infrared and ultraviolet emissions.[2]^:419

Mission

Launched from Vandenberg's 576-B-3 launch pad at 21 January 1965 21:34:54 UTC,[1] OV1-1 (then called Aerospace Research Vehicle (ARV)) was the first satellite launched into a western-facing orbit.[4] While the Atlas D carrying OV1-1 flew without incident, OV1-1's Altair booster did not fire at apogee, and the spacecraft remained stranded in its ARS.[2]^:419

Legacy and status

The OV1 program ultimately comprised 22 missions, the last flying on 19 September 1971.[2]^:421

References

McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
Powell, Joel W.; Richards, G.R. (1987). "The Orbiting Vehicle Series of Satellites". Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. Vol. 40. London: British Interplanetary Society.
Krebs, Gunter. "OV1". Retrieved 24 April 2020.
"Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1965" (PDF). NASA. p. 24. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
William R. Corliss (1967). Scientific Satellites. Washington D.C.: Science and Technical Information Division, Office of Technology Utilization, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. p. 769.

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[log-1] McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved December 30, 2018.

[Brit-2] Powell, Joel W.; Richards, G.R. (1987). "The Orbiting Vehicle Series of Satellites". Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. Vol. 40. London: British Interplanetary Society.

[gunter-3] Krebs, Gunter. "OV1". Retrieved 24 April 2020.

[aa1965-4] "Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1965" (PDF). NASA. p. 24. Retrieved 24 April 2020.

[SP-133-5] William R. Corliss (1967). Scientific Satellites. Washington D.C.: Science and Technical Information Division, Office of Technology Utilization, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. p. 769.