NSSDCA ID: 1967-060A-02
Mission Name: Mariner 5Both 423.3-MHz and the 2/17 subharmonic 49.8-MHz signals were transmitted from a 4.6-m steerable parabolic antenna at Stanford University to the two-frequency radio receiver on the spacecraft. The high-frequency signal served as a reference signal since its propagation time was not appreciably delayed. The low-frequency signal was delayed in proportion to the total electron content in the propagation path. On the spacecraft, a phase-locked receiver counted the beat-frequency zero crossings of the received signals to obtain measurements of phase-path differences. Differential delay of the group velocity was also observed, and these values were telemetered to the ground station. From calculated total electron content values, the ionospheric effect (up to a selected altitude obtained from other experimental techniques) can be subtracted to produce data describing the interplanetary electron content of the solar wind and its variations. The experiment operated nominally from launch to November 1967. For similar experiments covering other time periods, see Pioneers 6-9 (68-100A-03, 67-123A-03, 66-075A-04, and 65-105A-04). More detailed descriptions of the experiment can be found in J. Geophys. Res., v. 17, pp. 3325-3327, and in Radio Science, v. 6, pp. 55-63. NSSDC has all the data from this experiment.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Thomas A. Croft | Other Investigator | SRI International | tomcroft@kl.sri.com |
Prof. Von R. Eshleman | Principal Investigator | Stanford University | eshleman@nova.stanford.edu |