AEROS (satellite)
AEROS satellites were to study the aeronomy i. e. the science of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere, in particular the F region under the strong influence of solar extreme ultraviolet radiation. To this end the spectrum of this radiation was recorded aboard by one instrument on the one hand and a set of 4 other instruments measuring the most important neutral uand iononized parameters at the satellite's position on the other.
AEROS was built by Ball Aerospace for a co-operative project between NASA and the Bundesministerium für Foschung und Technologie, Federal Republic of Germany.
Named for the Greek god of the air at the suggestion of the BMwF.
AEROS A and B carried identical instrumentation only the instrument measuring short scale variations of the electron density didn't work on A. A third Aeros C was planned for Earth Resources studies in a 3-axis spin-stabilized configuration, to be launched by a Shuttle in 1986.
Specifications
- Launch vehicles: Scout
- Launch location: Western Space and Missile Center at Vandenberg AFB
- Launch dates: 16 December 1972, 16 July 1974
- Re-entry dates: 22 August 1973, 2 September 1975
- Total weight: 280 pounds and 436 pounds for AEROS C
- Diameter: 36 inches
- Height: 28 inches
- Shape: Cylindrical
- Power: Solar cells/nickel-cadmium batteries
- Power requirements: 4.7-34.3 watts