NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1972-073A
Interplanetary Monitoring Platform H (IMP-H, also Explorer 47, or IMP-7) continued the study begun by earlier IMP spacecraft of the interplanetary and magnetotail regions from a nearly circular orbit, near 37 Earth radii. It was designed to measure energetic particles, plasma, and electric and magnetic fields.
IMP-H was a 16-sided drum-shaped spacecraft, 157.8 cm high and 135.6 cm in diameter, with a mass of 390 kg (860 lbs). It consisted of an aluminum honeycomb shelf supported by eight struts and a 46 cm diameter thrust tube on the underside. Experiment modules are mounted on the top side of the shelf, with the experiment section fully covered by metallic covers and side panels.
It had two approximately 3.35 meter long booms extending from the drum holding various experiment packages, and two 1.22 meter long booms holding the attitude control system. The spacecraft was powered by three solar array rings and a chemical battery, giving a maximum power of 152 W. Scientific data were telemetered at 1600 bps (with a secondary 400-bps rate available).
It carried eight particle experiments, two fields experiments, and three plasma experiments. It also carried three engineering tests: monitoring of 12 thermal coatings, newly developed integral glass solar cells, and new data multiplex and data processing units.
IMP-H launched on 23 September 1972 at 01:20:00.559 UT (9:20 pm 22 September EDT)from Kennedy Space Center on a Delta 1640 with an extended first stage and TE 364-4 third stage. It went into a 201,599 x 235,639 km orbit with a period of 17,702 minutes and an inclination of 17.2 degrees. The spin axis was normal to the ecliptic plane, and the spin period was 1.3 s. The spacecraft was turned off on October 31, 1978.
Launch Date: 1972-09-23
Launch Vehicle: Delta
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Mass: 390 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. John R. Holtz | Program Manager | NASA Headquarters | |
Mr. William R. Limberis | Project Manager | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | |
Dr. Norman F. Ness | Project Scientist | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | |
Dr. Erwin R. Schmerling | Program Scientist | NASA Headquarters | |
Dr. James H. Trainor | General Contact | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center |
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IMP 8
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