Explorer 15

USA

Also called EPE-C and S 3B

Launch data:

Designation	00445 / 1962 B-Lambda 1 / 62059A
Launch date	27 Oct 1962 - 23:15 UT
Launch site	CC, LC17B
Launch vehicle	Delta-A (#346/D14)
Mission	Science
Perigee/Apogee	306/17610 km
Inclination	17.9°
Period	314.7 min
Dry mass on-orbit	44,4 kg

Description

Explorer 15 was a spin-stabilized, solar-cell-powered spacecraft instrumented to study the artificial radiation belt produced by the Starfish high-altitude nuclear burst of July 1962. The backup payload for Explorer 14 was modified and used for Explorer 15. The instrumentation included three sets of particle detectors to study both electrons and protons, and a two-axis fluxgate magnetometer to determine magnetic aspect. A 16-channel PFM/PM time-division multiplexed telemeter was used. The time required to sample the 16 channels (one frame period) was 0.323 s. Half of the channels were used to convey eight-level digital information, and the others were used for analog information. During ground processing of the telemetered data, the analog information was digitized with an accuracy of 1/100th of full scale. One analog channel was subcommutated in a pattern 16 frames long and was used to telemeter spacecraft temperatures, power system voltages, currents, etc. A digital solar aspect sensor measured the spin period and phase, digitized to 0.041 s, and the angle between the spin axis and the sun direction to about 3-deg intervals. During launch the spacecraft failed to despin. The spin rate ranged from 72.9 to 73.2 rpm during the life of the spacecraft. The spin axis pointed at right ascension 80.97 deg and declination 20.9 deg.

End of life

Decay

19 Dec 1978

Ref.: #1, #7, #27, #98 - update: 14.12.13

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