SOLRAD
SOLRAD (short for "SOLar RADiation," sometimes presented as "SOLRAD") was an American series of
Background
Until the
The field of solar X-ray astronomy lent itself well to such an application. As the Earth's atmosphere absorbs extraterrestrial X-ray sources (of which the Sun is by far the most prominent), it is necessary to send sensors high in or above the atmosphere to detect them. Otherwise, a vast spectrum of solar output is unavailable to Earthbound scientists.[3]
Thus, the GRAB satellites would be equipped with X-ray sensors such that they could conduct publicly available scientific research while secretly spying on other countries' military installations. Moreover, through continuous observation of the Sun, the SOLRAD satellites would help the military better understand the effect of solar activity (including
Development
When the
Despite this exodus, NRL satellite and space-based research continued. Through the advocacy of NRL engineer Martin Votaw, a small contingent of remaining NRL rocket scientists and technicians regrouped to form the Satellite Techniques Branch headed by Votaw.
Their first project was SOLRAD. The new branch was tasked with creating the engineering hardware of the "satellite bus," responsible for the structure, power supply, command, telemetry and the coordination of a satellite, along with its interface with the booster. The branch also handled any special circuitry needed to support the satellite payload.[5]
The SOLRADs were not a standardized series of satellites. The first five SOLRADs, launched 1960–1962, were scientific payloads aboard
Launches
Name | Launch date | International Designators | Other names | Launch vehicle |
---|---|---|---|---|
SOLRAD mass simulator | 13 April 1960 | 1960-003C | – | Thor DM-21 Ablestar[8]
|
SOLRAD 1 | 22 June 1960 | 1960-007B | GRAB-1
|
Thor DM-21 Ablestar
|
SOLRAD 2 | 30 November 1960 (failed launch) | SRD-2 | GRAB-2
|
Thor DM-21 Ablestar |
SOLRAD 3 | 29 June 1961 | 1961-015B | GRAB-3a, Injun 1
|
Thor DM-21 Ablestar |
SOLRAD 4 | 24 January 1962 (failed launch) | Thor DM-21 Ablestar[7] | ||
SOLRAD 4B | 26 April 1962 (failed launch) | SRAD4B | GRAB-3b
|
Scout X-2 |
SOLRAD 5 | Not launched | – | GRAB
|
– |
SOLRAD 6 | 15 June 1963 | 1963-021C | Solrad 6A[10] | Thor-Agena D |
SOLRAD 7A | 11 January 1964 | 1964-001D | Solrad 6[11] | Thor Augmented Delta-Agena D |
SOLRAD 7B | 9 March 1965 | 1965-016D | – | Thor Augmented Delta-Agena D |
SOLRAD 8 | 19 November 1965 | 1965-093A | Explorer 30
|
Scout X-4 |
SOLRAD 9 | 5 March 1968 | 1968-017A | Explorer 37
|
Scout B-1 S160C
|
SOLRAD 10 | 9 July 1971 | 1971-058A | Explorer 44
|
Scout B S177C
|
SOLRAD 11A | 14 March 1976 | 1976-023C | Titan IIIC | |
SOLRAD 11B | 14 March 1976 | 1976-023D | Titan IIIC | |
SOLRAD 11C | Not launched | SRD-11C | – |
References
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Solrad". Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- ISBN 1-56098-830-4.
- S2CID 23522259.
- ^ "Navy's Needs in Space for Providing Future Capabilities". Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "NRL Center for Space Technology Reaches Century Mark in Orbiting Spacecraft Launches". Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathon's Space Report. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-85109-519-3.
- ISBN 9781851095193. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
- ^ "Composite Launch Attempt Fails". Aviation Week and Space Technology. New York: McGraw Hill Publishing Company. January 29, 1962. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Retrieved 2018-12-30.
- S2CID 120525776. Retrieved January 10, 2019.