Explorer 16

USA

Orig PL Name: S-55B

Launch data:

Designation	00506 / 1962 B Chi 1 / 62070A
Launch date	16 Dec 1962 - 14:33:04 UT
Launch site	WI, LA-3 MkI
Launch vehicle	Scout-X3 (#S115)
Mission	Scientific: observation of meteorites
Earth orbit on Dec 16, 1962 (.6):
Perigee / Apogee	750 x 1181 km
Eccentricity	0.029
Inclination	52.01 deg
Period	104.32 min
Earth orbit on May 28, 2000 (.26):
Perigee / Apogee	744 x 1156 km
Eccentricity	0.028
Inclination	52.0°
Period	104.05 min

Spacecraft data:

Prime manufactor
Platform
Operator
Mass at launch	kg
Dry mass on-orbit	100,8 kg
Basic shape	Cylinder
Dimension (m)	1.93 long, 0.61 dia
Equipment
Solar array
Stabilization
Propulsion
DC power
Design lifetime	800 yrs

Description

This spacecraft was the second in the series of micrometeoroid satellites orbited by NASA. Its purpose was to obtain data on the near-earth meteoroid environment, thus providing an accurate estimate of the probability of penetration in spacecraft structures by meteoroids and allowing a more confident definition of the relationship between penetration flux and material thickness to be derived. The cylindrically shaped spacecraft, about 61 cm in diameter and 192-cm long, was built around the burned-out fourth stage of the Scout launch vehicle that remained as part of the orbiting satellite. Explorer 16 carried stainless steel pressurized-cell penetration detectors, impact detectors, capacitor detectors, and cadmium sulfide cell detectors to obtain data on the size, number, distribution, and momentum of dust particles in the near-earth environment. The spacecraft operated satisfactorily during its 7-month life (December 16, 1962, to July 1963), and all mission objectives were accomplished.

Satellite tracking:

Real time satellite tracking

Ref.: #2, #7, #27, #206, #228 - update: 03.11.13

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