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Mission planning for the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-C (OAO-C) is presented. The characteristics of the observatory and its capabilities are described. The following experiments are discussed: (1) Princeton Experiment Package, (2) X-ray experiment, and (3) guest investigator program. Results of the OAO-2 observatory are presented. A tabulation of flight events is included.
The description, development history, test history, and orbital performance analysis of the OSO-6 Orbiting Solar Observatory are presented. The OSO-6 Orbiting Solar Observatory was the sixth flight model of a series of scientific spacecraft designed to provide a stable platform for experiments engaged in the collection of solar and celestial radiation data. The design objective was 180 days of orbital operation. The OSO-6 has telemetered an enormous amount of very useful experiment and housekeeping data to GSFC ground stations. Observatory operation during the two-year reporting period was very successful except for some experiment instrument problems.
The design, development, and configuration of the astronomical observatory for shuttle are discussed. The characteristics of the one meter telescope in the spaceborne observatory are described. A variety of basic spectroscopic and image recording instruments and detectors which will permit a large variety of astronomical observations are reported. The stDC 37485elines which defined the components of the observatory are outlined.
The seventh Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO-7) in the continuing series designed to gather solar and celestial data that cannot be obtained from the earth's surface is described. OSO-7 was launched September 29, 1971. It has been highly successful in returning scientific data giving new and important information about solar flare development, coronal temperature variations, streamer dynamics of plasma flow, and solar nuclear processes. OSO-7 is expected to have sufficient lifetime to permit data comparisons with the Skylab A mission during 1973. The OSO-7 is a second generation observatory. It is about twice as large and heavy as its predecessors, giving it considerably greater capability for scientific measurements. This report reviews mission objectives, flight history, and scientific experiments; describes the observatory; briefly compares OSO-7 with the first six OSO's; and summarizes the performance of OSO-7.
The instrumentation selected for the observatory consists of a three-axis fluxgate magnetometer system with an automatic offset system and two axes of induction coil equipment. The recording equipment used is considered together with the timing equipment, operational problem areas, data reduction problem areas, and aspects of spacecraft data transmission. Advantages of a network of magnetic observatories are discussed. However, there are also a number of problems associated with the operation of a remote observatory.
The visible airglow photometer on the Atmosphere Explorer C satellite has been used to compare the calibrations of a number of ground-based airglow observatories. Discrepancies between different ground stations as large as a factor of six have been revealed. Efforts to account for these discrepancies have resulted in the discovery of differences as large as a factor of two in the standard light sources in use at different observatories. The participation of additional observatories in the intercomparison of standard sources is solicited. The project has also led to the discovery of a source of error that can amount to another factor of two in the procedure used to calibrate many airglow instruments. In the course of the project, detailed maps based on satellite data have been made of the galactic and zodiacal-light background at a number of wavelengths, and a substantial source of contaminating emission has been discovered in the satellite data. The contamination appears to result from interaction of the spacecraft and the atmosphere at altitudes below 170 km.
The High Energy Astronomy Observatory-Mission B (HEAO-B) is a satellite observatory for the purpose of performing a detailed X-ray survey of the celestial sphere. Measurements will be made of stellar radiation in the range 0.2 through 20 keV. The primary viewing requirement is to provide final aspect solution and internal alignment information to correlate an observed X-ray image with the celestial sphere to within one-and-one-half arc seconds. The Observatory consists of the HEAO Spacecraft together with the X-ray Telescope. The Spacecraft provides the required attitude control and determination system, data telemetry system, space solar power system, and interface with the launch vehicle. The X-ray Telescope includes a high resolution mirror assembly, optical bench metering structure, X-ray detectors, detector positioning system, detector electronics and aspect sensing system.
The larger system of the earth environment is controlled externally by electromagnetic and particle energy from the sun. Recent studies have shown that the sun is a variable star with changes in its radiation which produce significant effects in the earth's climate and weather. The study of the solar-terrestrial system requires simultaneous, long-duration observations of the different elements or 'links' in the solar-terrestrial chain. Many investigations must be conducted in space from a vantage point above the earth's atmosphere where all of the sun's emissions can be observed free from atmospheric distortion, where the magnetospheric particles and fields can be measured directly, and where the atmosphere can be observed on a global scale. The extension of the Shuttle on-orbit capability in connection with the development of the power module will offer an important near-term step in an evolutionary process leading toward a permanent manned Solar Terrestrial Observatory capability in low-earth orbit. Attention is given to the required solar-terrestrial measurements, the operation of the Solar Terrestrial Observatory, and an evolutionary approach to the Solar Terrestrial Observatory.
The High Energy Astronomy Observatory - Mission B (HEAO-B) is a satellite observatory for the purpose of performing a detailed X-ray survey of the celestial sphere. Measurements will be made of stellar radiation in the range of 0.2 to 20 keV. The central part of the Observatory is an X-ray telescope, into the focus of which a variety of imaging instruments and spectrographs may be introduced. The telescope has a resolution of about 1 arc second, so that the instruments must be placed with extreme precision. This is obtained by a mechanical system of toggles and stops and a motor drive system controlled by a position sensing potentiometer with a resolution of about 1.5 degrees
The series of three orbiting high energy astronomy observatories that comprise the HEAO program are described. Several unique designs as well as the attitude control and determination system, used for observatory scan rotation of the first and third missions and for precision pointing on the second mission, are analyzed. Attention is given to observatory requirements, design characteristics, and the RGA performance summary.
A description of the Solar Maximum Observatory and the operational status of its instrument systems is presented. The major science objectives which could be made possible with repairs to the spacecraft are defined. Hardware requirements and procedures for a repair mission are detailed. In general the mission involves: (1) the capture and control of the observatory in free flight by an astronaut in the manned manipulator unit; (2) berthing the observatory to the orbiter with the remote manipulator system; and (3) repairing the scientific instruments and replacing the attitude control system through extravehicular activity.
The Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO) will be placed in orbit by the Space Shuttle in the latter part of 1988. This large observatory weighs approximately 34,000 pounds, and the main body measures 25-feet long and 15-feet high and wide. The GRO will carry four scientific instruments that measure the gamma-ray spectrum from the end of the X-ray spectrum to the very high energy gamma. This paper primarily discusses the GRO's design and the procedures that relate to on-orbit servicing and maintenance. The original design of GRO was based on using some of the multimission modules from the Solar-Maximum Mission (SMM). The use of these modules and the increased use of astronauts in space activities has resulted in designs that, hopefully, will make GRO a more versatile observatory.
The design characteristics and performance capabilities of orbiting astrophysical observatory optics are projected from the state-of-the-art to the next 25 years. Attention is given to the possible features of large optical/UV observatories as well as to an advanced gamma-ray observatory that could employ the Space Shuttle's External Tank as its structural basis. It is noted that telescope performance has reached fundamental technological barriers to further progress which demand radical innovations in optical configurations' design.
A number of astrophysical observatory concepts were studied under the overall direction of the NASA Astrophysics Division in support of NASA's 90-day study of the Human Exploration Initiative. The four observatory concepts described here were investigated at JPL. In three of them, interferometric techniques would be used to acquire high resolution synthetic aperture images in several different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum: in the UV/visible near infrared; the submillimeter; and the very low frequency (1 to 30 MHz region). The fourth is a gravitational wave detector which uses laser optical interferometry to measure the strains induced by the passage of a gravitational wave. The observatory concepts reflect the constraints on lunar surface science deployment anticipated for the Human Exploration Initiative in the period 2002 through 2015.
The United States operates a network of, at present, 13 ground-based magnetic observatories. Continuous, one-minute digital vector and scalar geomagnetic field values have been recorded for the last decade, and extend about five years further back for several stations. Periodic, 3-component absolute measurements of the magnetic field are made to provide baseline reference data with which to determine calibrated field view values at all intervals. These data are now being made available on CD-ROM. The quality of the data depends upon a number of factors, including the types of instrumentation used to monitor and measure the field, the procedures and equipment used to collect and process the data, and the quality controls employed to check the data for erroneous values. These various factors are described here for the U.S. digital geomagnetic observatory data. The observatories have been undergoing an evolution over the last 15 years that will continue to significantly improve the accuracy, precision, and availability of geomagnetic data.
The concept of lunar optical and IR observatories is a natural step in the total utilization of the space environment for the benefit of science. Among the challenges associated with this remote observatory concept is the requirement for the support and servicing of the facility. This presentation will draw on the experience of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) program on-orbit maintenance design requirements plus the Lockheed on-orbit servicing and assembly activity to develop requirements for the maintenance and construction of a lunar observatory.
The Moon offers a stable platform with excellent seeing conditions for astronomical observations. Some troublesome aspects of the lunar environment will need to be overcome to realize the full potential of the Moon as an observatory site. Mitigation of negative effects of vacuum, thermal radiation, dust, and micrometeorite impact is feasible with careful engineering and operational planning. Shields against impact, dust, and solar radiation need to be developed. Means of restoring degraded surfaces are probably essential for optical and thermal control surfaces deployed in long-lifetime lunar facilities. Precursor missions should be planned to validate and enhance the understanding of the lunar environment (e.g., dust behavior without and with human presence) and to determine environmental effects on surfaces and components. Precursor missions should generate data useful in establishing keepout zones around observatory facilities where rocket launches and landings, mining, and vehicular traffic could be detrimental to observatory operation.
An investigation of the potential for using the ACTS to provide the data distribution network for a distributed set of users of an astronomical observatory has been conducted. The investigation consisted of gathering the data and interface standards for the ACTS network and the observatory instrumentation and telecommunications devices. A simulation based on COMNET was then developed to test data transport configurations for real-time suitability. The investigation showed that the ACTS network should support the real-time requirements and allow for growth in the observatory needs for data transport.