OV1-15/OV1-16

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

19:30:00

Thursday July 11, 1968

Mission Details

OV1-15

Wiki

OV1-15 also referred to as SPADES (Solar Perturbation of Atmospheric Density Experimental Satellite), was designed to study synoptically the fluctuations of atmospheric density, composition, and temperature as a function of solar magnetospheric disturbances. The cylindrical spacecraft, 69 cm in diameter, was 1.4 m long. Electrical power was supplied by solar cells mounted on multifaced domes on each end of the spacecraft. OV1-15 was spin-stabilized. The instrumentation consisted of a microphone density gauge, an ion gauge, mass spectrometers, energetic particle detectors, solar X-ray, and UV flux monitors, an ionospheric monitor, and a triaxial accelerometer. The spacecraft performed normally after launch, and re-entered the earth's atmosphere on November 6, 1968, after successfully completing the mission objectives.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

215 kilograms

OV1-16

Wiki

The OV1-16 satellite was a high-density, 63-cm diameter spherical spacecraft specifically designed to obtain accurate density data at very low altitudes (100 km). The principal active experiment was a triaxial accelerometer that measured satellite acceleration near perigee. Atmospheric densities were then computed from these data. The sphere also contained a c-band tracking beacon for drag density determination. Batteries and appropriate logic, timing, telemetry, and command and control equipment were also aboard. There was no onboard tape recorder, but real-time telemetry data were obtained during 199 passes over 12 stations.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

272 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Atlas-E/F OV1

Active 1968 to 1971


Payload to Orbit

LEO: 363 kg

Stages

2

Launch Site

LC-576A2

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

96 days 9 hours

Stats

Atlas-OV1


9th

Mission

2nd

Mission of 1968

1968


65th

Orbital launch attempt