SOLRAD 8

Solrad 8
Mission typeSolar science
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1965-093A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.1738
Mission duration58 years, 10 months and 14 days (in orbit)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerNaval Research Lab
Launch mass56.7 kilograms (125 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateNovember 19, 1965, 22:11:30 (1965-11-19UTC22:11:30Z) UTC [1][2]
RocketScout X-4
Launch siteWallops LA-3
End of mission
Last contactAugust 1967 (1967-09)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric[3]
RegimeCircular orbit
Eccentricity0.01302
Perigee altitude704 kilometers (437 mi)
Apogee altitude891 kilometers (554 mi)
Inclination59.7 degrees
Period100.8 minutes
Epoch19 November 1965, 04:48:00 UTC

The SOLRAD 8,Explorer 30 or SE-A satellite was one of the NASA SOLRAD (Solar Radiation) program that began in 1960 to provide continuous coverage of solar radiation with a set of standard photometers. SOLRAD 8 was a spin-stabilized satellite oriented with its spin axis perpendicular to the sun-satellite line so that the 14 solar X-ray[4] and ultraviolet photometers[5] pointing radially outward from its equatorial belt viewed the sun on each revolution. Data were transmitted in real time by means of an FM / AM the satellite's telemetry system and were recorded by the stations on the Spacecraft Tracking and Data Acquisition Network (STADAN) tracking network.[6]

  1. ^ "Solar-observing satellites". Rammb.cira.colostate.edu. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  2. ^ "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Trajectory: Explorer 30 (Solrad 8) 1965-093A". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SATELLITE_ENVIRONMENT/XRAY_BGND/docs/solrad.txt
  5. ^ "Solrad". Designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  6. ^ "Display: Explorer 30 (Solrad 8) 1965-093A". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.