Vela 3B


Vela 3B was a U.S. reconnaissance satellite to detect explosions and nuclear tests on land and in space; the first of the third pair of Vela series satellites; taken together with Vela 3A and ERS 17 satellites.
The secondary task of the ship was space research.
The satellite was rotationally stabilized. The ship could work in real time mode or in data recording mode. The first mode was used for the first 40% of the mission's duration. About 1 transmission was received every 4 hours. The second mode was used until the next pair of Vela satellites were launched.
The ship remains in orbit around Earth.

Instruments