LOFTI 1 [NRL]
LOFTI 1 [NRL] |
The LOFTI (Low Frequency Trans Ionospheric Satellite) satellites were produced as a cooperative effort with the Radio Division. Launched in 1961 and 1962, LOFTI attempted to determine whether very low frequency (VLF) energy could penetrate through the ionosphere and be received by submerged submarines. The satellites demonstrated that under many ionospheric conditions VLF signals were extremely attenuated and could not be detected, making them unreliable for submarine communication.
LOFTI 1 remained attached to and the Able-Star stage due to a programmer malfunction
during launch.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Research |
| Operator: | Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) / US Navy |
| Contractors: | Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | Solrad bus |
| Propulsion: | None |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | ? |
| Orbit: |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launcher | Remarks: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOFTI 1 | 22.02.1961 | CC LC-17B | P | Thor-DM21 Able-Star | with Transit 3A / failed to separate |
| LOFTI 2A | 24.01.1962 | CC LC-17B | F | Thor-DM21 Able-Star | with Injun 2, SECOR (1), Solrad 4A, Surcal 1 |
| Further LOFTI missions: |
Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs