NSSDCA ID: 1973-027A-48
Mission Name: SkylabThe purpose of this experiment was to provide data on the relative abundance of nuclei with Z > 26 in cosmic rays and was designed specifically to observe and identify as many transuranic nuclei as possible. The experiment was also intended to determine the upper limits on the flux of super heavy cosmic rays with Z > 110, and simultaneously to determine the energy spectrum of cosmic rays with Z equal to 26, Z > 60, Z > 85 from 1.5 keV/nucleon to 1500 MeV/nucleon. The experiment utilized plastic (lexan) detectors mounted in the orbital workshop (OWS). The cosmic rays penetrated the detector pacakges, streaking the plastic sheets within. Subsequent to return to earth, these plastic sheets were chemically etched and the cosmic tracks measured with an optical telescope. With this technique, both the atomic number and energy of each particle was determined.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
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Prof. P. Buford Price, Jr. | Principal Investigator | University of California, Berkeley |