OV3

OV3 [USAF]

The OV3 (Orbiting Vehicle 3) series were experimental satellites based on an octagonal bus structure. These were the only in the OV series launched on dedicated launchers.

Payloads:

OV3 1: Radiation belt particle and fields experiments (reflights of OV2 1 experiments)
OV3 2: Low energy radiation belt particles experiments, mass spectrometer, parallel plate retarding-potential analyser, electrostatic analyser, Langmuir probe, triaxial magnetometer
OV3 3: Radiation belt particle and fields experiments, Faraday cup, 2 directional telescopes, 3 spectrometers, magnetometer, VLF receiver (reflights of OV2 1 experiments)
OV3 4: 6 Tissue equicalent ion chambers, 2 five-channell spectrometers, 2 charged particle spectrometers, magnetometer
OV3 5: 2 mass spectrometers (neutal and ionised atmospheric particles), 3 cold cathode ionisation gauges, 2 boom mounted rf impedance probes
OV3 6: 2 mass spectrometers (neutal and ionised atmospheric particles), 3 cold cathode ionisation gauges, 2 boom mounted rf impedance probes

OV3 4 was also called PHASR (Personal Hazards Associated with Space Radiation) and OV3 5 and OV3 6 were called ATCOS (Atmospheric Composition Satellite).

Nation:	USA
Type / Application:	Experimental
Operator:	USAF
Contractors:	Aerojet (#1 - 4); AFCRL (#5 - 6)
Equipment:	see above
Configuration:	Aerojet GUS (General Utility Satellite)
Propulsion:
Lifetime:
Mass:
Orbit:

Satellite	Date	LS		Launcher
OV3 1	22.04.1966	Va PALC-D		Scout-B
OV3 2	28.10.1966	Va SLC-5		Scout-B
OV3 3	04.08.1966	Va SLC-5		Scout-B
OV3 4 (PHASR)	09.06.1966	WI LA-3		Scout-B
OV3 5 (ATCOS 1)	21.01.1967	Va SLC-5	F	Scout-B
OV3 6 (ATCOS 2)	04.12.1967	Va SLC-5		Scout-B

Further OV missions: