Echo 2 [NASA]
|
Echo 2 [NASA] |
The Echo 2 spacecraft was a 41-m balloon of aluminum foil-mylar laminate. Echo 2 was designed as a rigidized passive communications spacecraft for testing propagation, tracking, and communication techniques. Instrumentation included a beacon telemetry system that provided a tracking signal, monitored spacecraft skin temperature between -120 deg C and +16 deg C, and measured the internal pressure of the spacecraft between 5E-5 mm of mercury and 0.5 mm of mercury, especially during the initial inflation stages. This system, which consisted of two beacon assemblies, used solar cell panels for power and had a minimum power output of 45 mW at 136.17 MHz and 136.02 MHz.
Befor the orbital flight was made, two suborbital tests called Big Shot were made. Big Shot 1 failed, when the balloon ruptured during inflation.
In addition to fulfilling
its communications mission, the spacecraft was used for global geometric geodesy. The
spacecraft re-entered the atmosphere on June 7, 1969.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Communication, passive |
| Operator: | NASA |
| Contractors: | G. T. Schjeldahl Co. (Balloon); Kaiser-Fleetwings Co. (Container) |
| Equipment: | Beacon transmitters |
| Configuration: | Balloon, 41 m |
| Propulsion: | none |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 256 kg |
| Orbit: | 1029 km x 1316 km, 81.5° |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launcher | Remarks: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVT 1 (Big Shot 1) | 15.01.1962 | CC LC-17A | * | Thor-DSV2D | |
| AVT 2 (Big Shot 2) | 18.07.1962 | CC LC-17A | * | Thor-DSV2D | |
| Echo 2 (Echo C) | 25.01.1964 | Va 75-1-1 | Thor-DSV2A Agena-B |
* = suborbital test
| Further Echo missions: |
Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs