Alouette 1
Mission type | Ionospheric | |
---|---|---|
Operator | DRDC | |
Harvard designation | 1962 Beta Alpha 1 | |
COSPAR ID | 1962-049A | |
SATCAT no. | 424 | |
Mission duration | Final: 10 years and 1 day | |
Spacecraft properties | ||
Manufacturer | Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment | |
Launch mass | 145.6 kilograms (321 lb) | |
Start of mission | ||
Launch date | September 29, 1962, 06:05 | UTC|
Rocket | Vandenberg LC-75-1-1 | |
End of mission | ||
Deactivated | September 30, 1972 | |
Orbital parameters | ||
Reference system | Semi-major axis 7,381 kilometres (4,586 mi)[1] | |
Eccentricity | 0.00243[2] | |
Perigee altitude | 996 kilometres (619 mi)[2] | |
Apogee altitude | 1,032 kilometres (641 mi)[2] | |
Inclination | 80.500 degrees[2] | |
Period | 105.50 minutes[2] | |
Epoch | 29 September 1962 06:05:00 UTC[2] | |
Alouette 1 is a deactivated Canadian
A key device on Alouette were the radio antennas consisting of thin strips of
Development
Alouette 1 was part of a joint Canada-U.S. scientific program.[6] Its purpose was to investigate the properties of the top of the ionosphere, and the dependence of those properties on geographical location, season, and time of day.[7] Alouette 1 was advanced for its time, and NASA initially doubted whether the available technology would be sufficient. Nevertheless, NASA was eager to collaborate with international partners.[8] NASA was convinced to participate by the prospect of obtaining data on the ionosphere, and Canada had the additional objective of developing its own space research programme.[8] The United Kingdom also aided the mission by providing support at two ground stations, in Singapore and at Winkfield.[9]
Experiments
Alouette 1 carried four scientific experiments:
- Sweep-Frequency Sounder. This experiment measured the electron density distribution in the ionosphere by measuring the time delay between the emission and return of radio pulses.W.[7]: 50
- Energetic particle detectors. An arrangement of Geiger counters and scintillators for detecting energetic particles.[11]
- VLF Receiver. An experiment for measuring both artificial and natural VLF signals.[12] It was sensitive to frequencies between 400 and 10,000 Hz.[7]: 50
- Cosmic Radio Noise. Two long radio antennas used for detecting radio noise from the Sun and the Galaxy.[13]
The satellite did not have a tape recorder to store data.[14] It was only possible to obtain data when the satellite was in range of a receiving station.[15]
Duplicate construction
Two satellites were built for redundancy in case of a malfunction; if the first unit failed, the second could be launched with only a couple of months delay. It took 3½ years after Alouette's proposal to have it developed and built.
Satellite launch and mission progress
Alouette 1 was launched via
The satellite was initially spin-stabilized, rotating 1.4 times per minute. After about 500 days, the rotation had slowed to about 0.6 rpm and the spin-stabilization failed at this point. It was then possible to determine the satellite's orientation only by readings from a magnetometer and from temperature sensors on the upper and lower heat shields.[14] The orientation determinations obtained this way were only accurate to within 10 degrees. It is likely that gravitational gradients had caused the longest antenna to point towards the Earth.[15]
A 2010 technical report by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency titled "Collateral Damage to Satellites from an EMP Attack"[25] lists Alouette 1 among the satellites damaged by residual radiation from the July 9, 1962, Starfish Prime high-altitude nuclear test conducted by the United States. Another article, titled "Anthropogenic Space Weather",[26] indicates Alouette 1 sustained no significant adverse effects from the Starfish radiation, most likely due to a very conservative power supply design that allowed for a 40% degradation of solar cell performance.
Alouette's mission lasted for 10 years before the satellite was deliberately switched off on September 30, 1972.[27] The satellite remains in orbit; in 1966 it was estimated that Alouette 1 would remain in orbit for 1000 years.[28]
Post mission
After Alouette 1 was launched, the upper stage of the rocket used to launch the satellite became a derelict object that would continue to orbit Earth for many years. As of 2022[update], the upper stage remains in orbit.[29]
The satellite itself became a derelict, remaining in Earth orbit As of 2022[update]. [30]
The Alouette 1 was named an
Alouette 1's backup was later launched, with some modification, as Alouette 2 in 1965 to "replace" the older Alouette 1.[32]
See also
- Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes
- Prince Albert Radar Laboratory (used as the initial ground station)
References
- ^ "ALOUETTE 1 (S-27)". N2YO.com. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Alouette 1 – Trajectory Information". NASA NSSDCA. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ Palimaka, John. "The 30th Anniversary of Alouette I". IEEE. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- ^ Helen T. Wells; Susan H. Whiteley; Carrie E. Karegeannes. Origin of NASA Names. NASA Science and Technical Information Office. p. 10.
- ^ "Antenna material". Ingenium. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ISBN 0521310652
- ^ ISBN 3540423885.
- ^ a b Rakobowchuk, Peter (September 8, 2012), "NASA once thought Canada's famed Alouette-1 satellite was too ambitious: space engineer", National Post, retrieved May 1, 2015
- ^ Le Galley, Donald P. (1964), "1", in Le Galley, Donald P.; Rosen, Alan (eds.), Space Physics, Univer1sity of California Engineering and Physical Sciences Extension Series, John Wiley and Sons, p. 36
- ^ "Sweep-Frequency Sounder". NASA. August 26, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- ^ "Energetic Particles Detectors". NASA. August 26, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- ^ "VLF Receiver". NASA. August 26, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- ^ "Cosmic Radio Noise". NASA. August 26, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8160-5330-8.
- ^ a b Grayzeck, Ed (August 26, 2014). "Alouette 1". NASA. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- ^ "Canada: 50 years in space - Canadian Geographic". Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
- ^ "The Alouette Program". Online Journal of Space Communication. 4. Ohio University. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ Agency, Canadian Space (March 5, 2012). "Satellite Alouette I and II". Canadian Space Agency. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
- ^ "Magic of Waves in Saint-Henri". Musée des ondes Emile Berliner. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ISBN 90-277-0959-9
- ISBN 0471056499.
- ^ "Alouette I and II". Canadian Space Agency. March 3, 2012.
- ^ Gainor, Chris (2012), Alouette 1 – Celebrating 50 Years of Canada in Space, SpaceRef, archived from the original on April 17, 2015
- ^ Conrad, Edward E., et al. "Collateral Damage to Satellites from an EMP Attack" Report DTRA-IR-10-22, Defense Threat Reduction Agency. August 2010 [1] (Retrieved May 27, 2019)
- ^ T. I. Gombosi., et al. "Anthropogenic Space Weather" Space Science Reviews. 10.1007 (Page 26, Table 2) [2] (Retrieved May 27, 2019)
- ^ Baker, David (2004). Jane's Space Directory. Jane's Information Group. p. 471.
- ^ "Space trash, and an inventory of hardware in orbit". LIFE. Vol. 61, no. 6. 1966. p. 29.
- ^ "Alouette 1 Rocket – Satellite Information". satellite database. Heavens-Above. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ^ "Alouette 1 – Satellite Information". satellite database. Heavens-Above. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ^ "Milestones:Alouette-ISIS Satellite Program, 1962". IEEE Global History Network. IEEE. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ "The ISIS Satellite Program". friendsofcrc.ca. July 19, 1996. Retrieved February 26, 2017.