 OV1-15 satellite | |
| Mission type | Earth science |
|---|---|
| Operator | USAF |
| COSPAR ID | 1968-059A |
| SATCAT no. | S03318 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics |
| Launch mass | 215 kg (474 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 11 July 1968 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas F |
| Launch site | Vandenberg 576-A-2[1] |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 6 November 1968 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Regime | Low Earth Orbit |
| Eccentricity | 0.11291 |
| Perigee altitude | 154.00 km (95.69 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 1,818.00 km (1,129.65 mi) |
| Inclination | 104.82° |
| Period | 89.880 minutes[2] |
| Epoch | 11 July 1968 19:26:00 UTC |
Orbiting Vehicle 1–15 (also known as OV1-15[1] and SPADES (Solar Perturbation of Atmospheric Density Experimental Satellite)[3]: 421 ), launched 11 July 1968, was the first satellite (along with its companion, OV1-16) to return long-term information on the density of the Earth's upper atmosphere. Part of the OV1 series of USAF satellites, using standardized designs and sent to orbit on decommissioned Atlas ICBMs to reduce development and launching costs, OV1-15 was launched via Atlas F side-by-side with OV1-16. Before its orbit decayed, causing the satellite to reenter on 8 November 1968, OV1-15 profoundly improved our knowledge of the upper atmosphere, proving that air density increased with solar activity rather than decreasing, as had been the prevailing theory to that time.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "OV1-15". NASA. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ Powell, Joel W.; Richards, G.R. (1987). "The Orbiting Vehicle Series of Satellites". Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. Vol. 40. London: British Interplanetary Society.