STARAD
 | |
| COSPAR ID | 1962-058A |
|---|---|
| SATCAT no. | 00444 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Air Force Cambridge Research Lab |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 26 October 1962 |
| Rocket | Thor Augmented Delta-Agena D[1] |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 18 January 1963 |
| Decay date | 5 October 1967 |
STARAD (STARfish RADiation) was a radiation-monitoring satellite used to track the artificial
Background
On 9 July 1962, decay of debris the Starfish Prime nuclear test utccreated an unexpected increase in high-energy particles in the
Build and launch
The STARAD vehicle was designed and built in sixty days and was launched from
Results
The STARAD data showed that the radiation from the Starfish test was decaying much slower than expected[2] and that there was little decrease in radiation after the satellite's launch. It also detected radiation from two Soviet nuclear tests conducted after its launch.[3] The satellite's spin allowed scientists to measure Pitch angle distributions. [4]
The satellite's existence was kept secret for some time, as were the conclusions that the artificial radiation belt could last ten years or longer. The unfavorable conclusions worsened existing criticism of the Starfish test among the scientific community.[5][6]
References
- ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Telemetry Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ a b c Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (1962). Report on Research at AFCRL. Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories. pp. 46–47. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ a b Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1963: Chronology on Science, Technology, and Policy. Scientific and Technical Information Division, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 1964. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- OSTI 4460586. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ Booda, Larry (15 April 1963). "Wiesner, Charyk ordered Starad Secrecy". Aviation Week & Space Technology. p. 26.
- ^ "Singer Urges Early Space Project Data". Aviation Week & Space Technology. 22 April 1963. p. 27.