TETR 1

Description

TETR-A was a very small magnetically stabilized satellite instrumented with a s-band transponder to provide training to Apollo ground stations. Its external configuration was an octahedron, 12 in. on each side. It was powered by solar cells mounted on the octahedron surfaces and nickel cadmium batteries. The instrumentation included the 9.5 watt s-band transponder, a PAM/FM/PM telemeter encoder and 100 milliwatt VHF transmitter. The spacecraft was built by Thompson Ramo Wooldridge, Inc. The orbit was lower than planned and as a result it reentered the atmosphere April 28, 1968. However, the intended mission was accomplished. MSFN worked with it in more than 600 passes and it was used in four network mission simulations.