Explorer 7

Launch data: Designation 00022 / 1959 Iota 1 / 59009A Launch date 13 Oct 1959 - 15:30:04 UT Launch site CC, LC5 Launch vehicle Juno 2 (#AM-19A) Mission Scientific: high atmosphere study Earth orbit on Oct 13, 1959 (.7): Perigee/Apogee 556 x 1088 km Eccentricity  0.037 Inclination 50,31° Period 101,28 min Earth orbit on May 24, 2000 (.24): Perigee / Apogee  517 x 826 km Eccentricity  0.022 Inclination  50,29° Period  98,17 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• Explorer 7 was designed to measure solar X-ray and Lyman-alpha flux, trapped energetic particles, and heavy primary cosmic rays (Z>5). Secondary objectives included collecting data on micrometeoroid penetration and molecular sputtering and studying the earth-atmosphere heat balance. The spin-stabilized satellite's external structure consisted of two truncated conical fiberglass shells joined by a cylindrical aluminum center section. The spacecraft was 75 cm wide at its equator and about 75 cm high. The spacecraft was powered by approximately 3000 solar cells mounted on both the upper and lower shells. Additional power was provided by 15 nickel-cadmium batteries that were positioned on its equator near the outer skin as an aid in maintaining a proper spin rate.
• Two crossed dipole (1 W, 20 MHz) telemetry antennas projected outward from the center section, and a 108-MHz antenna used for tracking was mounted on the bottom of the lower shell. Located around the periphery of the center section were five bolometers for thermal radiation measurements and three cadmium sulfide micrometeoroid detector cells. A cylindrical ion chamber (lithium flourid window) and a beryllium window X-ray chamber were located on opposite sides of the upper cone, and a cosmic-ray Geiger counter was located on the very top. A primary cosmic-ray ionization chamber was located within the center portion of the upper cone. Useful real-time data were transmitted from launch through February 1961 and intermittently until August 24, 1961.

Mission details:

• One of the oldest satellites in orbit has reentered; the Sergeant rocket used to launch Explorer VII in Oct 1959 burnt up on 16 July, 1989. This is the first time that a satellite of this vintage has reentered since 1982 (a fragment from Vanguard 3) and 1970 (Explorer I). Still in orbit are (from 1958) Vanguard I, its final stage rocket, and a separation clamp which had connected them; and (from 1959) Vanguard 2, its final stage rocket, and Explorer VII itself.

Satellite tracking: