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 Tansei-4 - Tansei-4 was launched on the 17th February 1980 on a M-3C-1 launcher from Kagoshima. The
Japanese satellite demonstrated various satellite sub-systems.
- ECS-b (Ayame-2),
1980
- Built by NASDA with the objective to provide mm-wave experiments. The 130kg (260 at
launch) mini-satellite was launched 22 February 1980 0846 GMT on the N-I launcher from
Tanegashima launch centre into a Geostationary orbit. It is cylindrically shaped with 1.4m
diameter and 1.9m high including antenna. ECS ceased radio transmissions about 10 seconds
after the apogee kick motor was fired. It carried communications and propagation
experiments of satellite-communication systems in the quasi-millimetre wave band and
microwave band. Also an operation and control experiment for Geostationary satellites.
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- Hinotori
(Shinsei-7, Astro A), 1981
- Jikiken was launched on the 21st February 1981 on a M-3S launcher into a 580x640km orbit
inclined at 31 degrees. The 190kg Japanese satellite was used to study the spectrum of
solar hard X-ray-flares.
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- DE A,
1981
- The two Dynamics Explorer satellites were launched on the 3rd July 1981 in order to
study the Earth's electromagnetic field. DE A weighed 424kg.
- DE B,
1981
- The two Dynamics Explorer satellites were launched on the 3rd July 1981 in order to
study the Earth's electromagnetic field. DE B weighed 420kg.
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- Tenma
(Shinsei-8, Astro B)
- Jikiken was launched on the 21st February 1981 on a M-3S launcher from Kagoshima into a
350x600km orbit inclined at 31 degrees. The 180kg Japanese satellite was used to study
galactic X-ray sources.
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- GMS-2 (Himawari
2).
- A Japanese Geostationary engineering test satellite launched on an N-1 on the 10th
August 1981 from Tanegashima. The spacecraft contributed to the Global Atmospheric
Research Programme by providing global cloud cover images 14 times per day for weather
forecasting. The satellite weighed 281kg (670kg including apogee kick motor). The
satellite was to replace GMS-2, but showed signs of failing in mid 1984.
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- Shi Jian-2
- A 257kg minisatellite
- SME
- The Solar Mesospheric Explorer was launched on a THOR DELTA Vandenberg AFB, on the 6th
October 1981 1127 GMT into a 538 x 541km sun-synchronous LEO orbit, inclined at 97.46
degrees. UoSAT-1 was a secondary passenger on the same launch. It was developed as a low
cost mission by Ball Aerospace, JPL and the University of Colorado. It measured the nature
and magnitude of changes in mesospheric ozone. The satellite weighed 417kg, and was
operated by University of Colorado students for more than 7 years.
References
[1] Ball publication A6323.SmSat[18A]AD0-2/9/96.
- Bhaskara 2,
1981-115A
- The second in a series of Indian remote sensing satellites, launched on the 20th
November 1981 from Kapustin Yar in the Soviet Union on an Intercosmos
launcher into a [541x557 or 368x372]km inclined at 50.7
degrees. The 436kg spacecraft was named after a 7th century Indian astronomer, the
satellite returned more than 300 images of India. It decayed on the 30th November 1990.
- ETS-3
(Kiku 4), 1982-087A
- The 385kg Engineering Test Satellite-3 (ETS) was launched 0500 GMT on the 3rd September
1982 on the last N-1 launcher (flight 9) from Tanegashima into a 968x1228km orbit inclined
at 44.6 degrees. It is box shaped with two deployable panels. It carried equipment for
verification of three axis attitude control function, verification of solar array paddle
deployment function, verification of active thermal control function, functional test of
mission equipment in the space. An ion engine was also tested. The spacecraft carried a
tape recorder for returning telemetry out of range of the groundstation.
-
- Sirio-2
- An Italian Geostationary mini-satellite to follow on from Sirio-1 which was launched on
the 25th August 1977. The ARIANE launch L-5 of the spacecraft on the 9th September 1982
failed to reach orbit. The spacecraft weighed 398kg, and 220kg on orbit.
- Astro B
(Tenma), 1983-011A
- Launched on the 20th February 1983 on a M-3S launcher from Kagoshima into a 456x455km
orbit inclined at 31.5 degrees. The 185kg Japanese satellite was used to study galactic
X-ray sources. It decayed on the 17th December 1988.
- Ohzora (EXOS C),
1984-015A.
- Launched on the 14th February 1984 on a M3S launcher into a 503x317km orbit inclined at
74.6 degrees. The 180kg spacecraft was employed in the study of the middle atmosphere and
optically sensed the atmosphere and ionosphere. It decayed on the 19th July 1989.
- AMPTE-1 (CCE),
1984-088A
- The Active Magnetosphere Particle Tracer Explorer was launched on a DELTA 3924 on the
16th August 1984 in a collaborative program between the U.S., the U.K. and Germany. A
barium and lithium cloud was released from the German 705kg spacecraft, and the 251kg
American satellite contained instruments to study the interaction of the cloud with the
solar wind. The 76kg British satellite measured the effect of the cloud on the natural
plasma. The US Charge Composition Explorer (CCE) spacecraft was placed into a 974x49817km
orbit inclined at 3.8 degrees and detected tracer ions released into the magnetosphere by
the German IRM satellite.
- ERBS, 1984-108B
- Launched on the 5th October 1988 from STS41G into a 605x601km orbit inclined at
57degrees. The 226kg Earth Radiation Budget Satellite studied solar radiation energy.
- NOVA 3,
1984-110A
- Launched on the 12th October 1988 on a Scout launcher from WSMC. The 165kg spacecraft
was placed into a 1150x1198km orbit inclined at 90.1 degree, and is employed for
navigation purposes.
- Sakigake
(M5-T5), 1985-001A
- Launched on the 7th January 1985 from Kagoshima on a M3S2 launcher into a heliocentric
orbit, the 141kg Sakigake satellite encountered the Halley comet in March 1986.
- Cosmos
1617-1622, 1985-003A-F
- A multiple launch of an Tsyklon from Plesetsk Cosmodrome on the 15th January 1985
put six spacecraft into a 1415km orbit inclined at 82.6 degrees, The spacecraft form part
of the military constellation for the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence
(MO RF). The
spacecraft use the STRELA-3 bus, weigh 231kg each and are designed for a five year
lifetime by NPO Applied Mechanics (NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki of Krasnoyarsk, Russia). The
spacecraft will provide military services of data transfer and photo reconnaissance
in the
Locsyst communications system.
- Planet A
(Suisei), 1985-073A
- Launched on the 18th August 1985 from Kagoshima on a M3S2 launcher into a heliocentric
orbit, the 141kg Suisei satellite encountered the Halley comet on the 19th September
1985.
- Cosmos
1690-1695, 1985-094A-F
- A multiple launch of an Tsyklon from Plesetsk Cosmodrome on the 9th October 1985 put
six spacecraft into a 1415km orbit inclined at 82.6 degrees, The spacecraft form part of
the military constellation for the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence (MO RF). The
spacecraft use the STRELA-3 bus, weigh 231kg each and are designed for a five year
lifetime by NPO Applied Mechanics (NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki of Krasnoyarsk, Russia). The
spacecraft will provide military services of data transfer and photo reconnaissance
in the
Locsyst communications system. Satellite B later exploded in orbit on the 22nd November
creating 18 pieces of debris.
- VIKING
- The Viking satellite was built by the Swedish Space Corp.,
and launched as a secondary payload to SPOT-1 on the ARIANE launcher o the 22nd of
February 1986, into a 13536 x 811km orbit, inclined at 98.82 degrees. It is frustum
shaped, weighs 286kg, and is 1.85m diameter and 0.5m high. It studies space plasma physics
in the near Earth magnetosphere, and in particular the auroral regions of the ionosphere
and magnetosphere. The satellite ceased to function on 12 May 1987 due to a gradual
degradation of its electrical power supply system.
- Polar BEAR , 1986-087A
- The Beacon Experiments and Auroral Research (BEAR) 125kg mini-satellite was launched on
a Scout launcher from WSMC on the 14th November 1986 into a 963 x 1019km, 89.55 degree
inclined orbit. It is octagonal shaped, with four solar panels providing 31W orbit average
power.
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