NSSDCA ID: 1958-007A-02
Mission Name: Pioneer 1A search-coil magnetometer was designed to measure the distant geomagnetic and interplanetary magnetic fields. The magnetometer could measure fields from approximately 6 to 12,000 microgauss. The unit was designed to detect both absolute magnitude and directional changes in the magnetic field intensity at great distances. The returned signal was digitized at 52 samples per sec.
The magnetometer consisted of a single search coil of no.40 copper wire wound on a 25.4 cm (10-inch) nickel-iron alloy core. The coil comprised 30,000 turns covering the center 5 cm (2 inches) of the core. The coil was fixed in the spacecraft with its plane colinear with the spin axis, so it would measure the component of the magnetic field perpendicular to the spin axis. The electromagnetic field generated by the coil was fed to an amplifier with a center frequency of 2.0cps and a bandpass of 2.0 cps. The instrument package was enclosed in an RF shielded container.
The Pioneer 1 magnetometer was designed to study the magnetic field between the Earth and Moon and to test for a lunar magnetic field. Due to a launch vehicle pointing error lunar approach was not achieved, it was instead used to study the geomagnetic field along the trajectory. No inflight calibration was provided between 0945 and 1106 UT and between 1543 and 1719 UT when the usable magnetometer data were obtained while spacecraft was at radial distances of 3.7 to 7.0 and 12.3 to 14.6 Earth radii. The experiment is described in detail by Sonett, JGR, vol 67, p 1191, 1962.
Mass: 0.44 kg
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Charles P. Sonett | Principal Investigator | University of Arizona |