NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1968-084A
ESRO-1/Aurorae was a 80-kg, cylindricallly shaped, solar-cell-powered spacecraft instrumented with seven scientific experiments chosen to measure a comprehensive range of auroral effects. The measurements include auroral luminosity, ionospheric composition and temperature, and the flux, type and energy spectra of trapped and precipitated energetic particles (electrons of energies 1 to 30,000 KeV). The spacecraft was placed in a low polar orbit with its axis of symmetry magnetically aligned along the earth's field. It had operated satisfactorily for 18 months, except for the tape recorder which failed after 7 months. Aurorae was expected to reenter the Earth's atmosphere in June 1970.
Launch Date: 1968-10-03
Launch Vehicle: Scout
Launch Site: Vandenberg AFB, United States
Mass: 85.8 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. Herbert L. Eaker | Project Manager | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | |
Dr. Leslie H. Meredith | Project Scientist | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | |
Mr. Derek E. Mullinger | Project Manager | ESA-European Space Research and Technology Centre | |
Dr. Rudolf Jaeschke | Project Scientist | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center |