NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1979-020A
The Intercosmos-19 satellite was launched on February 27, 1979, during the period of the International Magnetosphere Study (IMS), into a high inclination, elliptical orbit with a low apogee. The orbit was such that consecutive equatorial crossings were separate by about 25 degrees in longitude and the crossing local time changed roughly by 15 minutes per days. The satellite operated successfully for more than 3 years, until April, 1982. The main scientific objectives of Intercosmos-19 were: (1) the study of the electron-density distribution from the main ionization maximum of the F region up to the satellite altitude with a topside sounder, and the correlation of the time and space variations with solar activity, corpuscular fluxes and other geophysical phenomena, (2) global mapping of basic ionospheric parameters and construction of a topside ionosphere model, (3) the study of wave processes in magnetospheric plasma in the frequency range 100 Hz to 5 MHz, (4) the study of time and space variations of emissions in the 6300-6364 A bands and 3914 A and 5577 A lines, (5) the study of time and space variations of charged particles with energies between 10 eV and 50 MeV and their ionospheric effect, and (6) the study of time and space variations of local electron and ion densities and temperatures. The satellite payload included the following instruments: topside sounder IS-338 (USSR), Langmuir probe P-4 (Bulgaria, USSR), local temperature probe KM-3 (USSR, Czechoslovakia), photometer EMO-1 (Bulgaria), soft particle spectrometer SF-3 (USSR), differential high energy spectrometer Perot-3 (USSR), VLF analyzer ANCh-2ME (USSR, Czechoslovakia), HF wideband receiver with wideband telemetry transmitter AVCh-2 (USSR), coherent 3-frequency beacon transmitter M4K-3 (Czechoslovakia). The program included simultaneous ground-based observations at ionospheric and solar stations of the U.S.S.R. and other East block countries. Data from the topside sounder are available from IZMIRAN at
Launch Date: 1979-02-27
Launch Vehicle: Modified SS-5 (SKean IRBM) plus Upper Stage
Launch Site: Plesetsk, U.S.S.R
Mass: 550 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Dr. Dieter K. Bilitza
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Prof. Vladimir V. Migulin | Project Scientist | IZMIRAN | solter@charley.izmiran.rssi.ru |