NSSDCA ID: 1961-022A-04
Mission Name: S 55AThe purposes of the experiment were to extend micrometeoroid measurements to a low population range where few data exist and to correlate with and augment the data amassed by previous satellite experiments using similar techniques. The detector had three threshold levels of momentum sensitivity (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 gm-cm/sec) and consisted of two different physical configurations of detecting surfaces. The first configuration, which was used for high and low sensitivity detection, consisted of a pair of impact-sensitive stainless steel plates mounted on the conical portion of the satellite forward shell. The plates, which had a total geometric area of 0.142 sq m, each had an attached transducer, as well as signal conditioning, impact-event counting, and count-storage circuitry. The second detector configuration was composed of 20 of the 0.013 cm-thick pressurized-cell penetration detectors that were sensitized for impact detection. The cells, which had a total area of 0.186 sq m, were used for intermediate impact detection. The short orbital lifetime of the spacecraft (2-1/2 days) permitted only 10 interrogations of the satellite recorder. The measured impact flux rates were substantially higher than those obtained by earlier meteoroid experiments and probably contained false counts due to aerodynamic mechanical perturbances and temperature effects on impact-sensing transducer elements resulting from the low initial perigee. Hence, the data muct be considered as inconclusive.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
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Mr. Alfred G. Beswick | Principal Investigator | NASA Langley Research Center |