NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Failure

Vanguard TV5

Launch Time
Tue Apr 29, 1958 02:53 UTC

Third stage failed to ignite.

Rocket

Vanguard
US Navy
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 135 kN
Payload to LEO: 10 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 23.0 m

Mission Details

Vanguard TV5

The goal Vanguard TV5 satellite, Vanguard 2A, was to measure the X-ray emission from the sun and its effects on the Earth's atmosphere. This was the same test as Vanguard Lyman-alpha satellites but at different wavelengths. The detectors were two identical ionization chambers sensitive to X-ray wavelengths produced in solar flares (2 to 8 Å, or 200 to 800 pm). The ionization chambers were located 120 deg apart in the equatorial plane of the satellite and received a maximum signal when an ion chamber tube "looked" toward the sun. The instrumentation measured the 1 to 8 Å (100 to 800 pm) X-ray flux, and recorded the peak solar flare intensity by means of a peak-reading memory device, during the daylight portion of each orbit.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 10.0 kg
Medium Earth Orbit

Location

LC-18A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

1958

7th orbital launch attempt

Vanguard

4th mission
3rd mission of 1958
3rd failed mission