Ariel 4

UK

Spacecraft nº:

UK spacecraft nº: 8

Also called UK-4

Launch data:

Designation:	05675 / 71109A
Launch date/time:	11 Dec 1971 - 20:47
Launch site:	Va, SLC-5
Launch vehicle:	Scout-B1 (#78)
Mission:	Scientific: ionosphere and high atmosphere study
Earth orbit:
Perigee/Apogee:	477/593 km
Inclination	82.99°
Period	95.3 min

There were 5 experiments: electron temp, electron density, extremely low frequency radio astronomy and terestrial lightning, galactic radio sound and solar particle detector.
Data recording was made by AWRE Aldermaston.
The craft was switched off in April 1973, but periodically re-activated, including in October-December 1973 for an aurora study with four SKYLARK rockets over Andoya.

Specifications:

Prime contractor	BAC/Hawker Siddeley Dynamics
Platform
Mass at launch	kg
Dry Mass	99.5 kg
Dimension	height: 1.52m, diameter: 0.76m, while span over the solar panels was 2.13m
Basic shape
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power

Decay:

Out of service:
Cause:
Descent date:	12 Dec 1978
Lifetime:

Ref.: #1, #8, #15, #102(SL19) - update: 02.02.10