NSSDCA ID: 1962-070A-03
Mission Name: S 55BThis experiment was one of five micrometeorite detectors aboard Explorer 16. There were 46 wire grid detectors consisting of a winding of five copper wires, 52-and 76-microns thick, mounted on 3.68 x 17.8-cm rectangular melamine cards, to obtain measurements of micrometeoroid impact. Fourteen of the cards were wound with 0.05-mm wire and 32 cards with 0.076-mm wire, providing a total exposed area of 0.3 sq m to penetration by micrometeoroids. When a micrometeoroid broke the wires, the lowered resistance level of an electronic circuit was recorded. Impacts were measured separately on the satellite's two telemeters and were then relayed for transmission to earth. During the 7 1/2 months in which the experiment transmitted useful data, telemeter A gave no indication of a break in either the 52-micron or the 76-micron copper wires on the card detectors. Telemeter B recorded one break in the 52-micron and 76-micron wire on June 28, 1963, and one in the 76-micron wire on July 13, 1963. More details on this experiment are contained in E. C. Hastings, NASA TMX-810, 1963.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. Luc Secretan | Principal Investigator | NASA Langley Research Center |