PASCOMSAT (OV1 8) [USAF]
PASCOMSAT (OV1 8) [USAF] |
PasComSat (Passive Communication Satellite) was an inflateable gridsphere launched on
an OV1 propulsion module. A gridsphere is a balloon consisting of wire mesh embedded in a
photolyzable balloon. After inflation in space, the UV radiation causes the ballon to
vaporize, leaving a wire frame in spherical shape. This gridsphere reflects radio waves as
good as a aluminized balloon, but has much less atmospherical drag. A follow up was
launched as experiment AVL-802.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Experimental |
| Operator: | USAF |
| Contractors: | Goodyear Aerospace Corp. |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | 9.1 m gridsphere |
| Propulsion: | none |
| Mass: | 10.5 kg (3.2 kg after photolyzation); 4.7 kg (container); 9.6 kg (control asembly) |
| Orbit: | 998 km x 1013 km, 144.2° |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launcher | Remarks: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PasComSat (OV1 8) | 14.07.1966 | Va | Atlas-D OV1 | with OV1 7 |
| Further OV missions: |
Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs