NSSDCA ID: 1961-028A-03
Mission Name: MIDAS 4The experiment was designed to place a belt of thin microwave dipoles into orbit around the earth to serve as an artificial scattering medium for radio signals. Nineteen kg of copper needle dipoles (4.8 times 10 to the 8 power) were to be placed into a near-circular, near-polar orbit at a mean altitude of approximately 2200 km. The dipoles were to be observed both optically and by radar. The attempt to establish the dipole belt failed when the package containing the needles failed to be ejected from the orbiting spacecraft. An identical experiment (63-014A-01) was later successfully flown on Midas 6.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Irwin I. Shapiro | Other Investigator | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | ishapiro@cfa.harvard.edu |
Mr. W. E. Morrow | Other Investigator | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
Dr. Donald C. Maclellan | Principal Investigator | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | maclellan@ll.mit.edu |