Vanguard TV3

Vanguard TV3 is the first test of the the United States of launching of a satellite on terrestrial orbit, within the framework of the international geophysical Année. Its failure with the launching, diffused on line in front of the cameras of the whole world and little time after the Soviet success of the Sputnik, is worth the nickname of Flopnik to him.

NSSDC ID : VAGT3
Launching: December 6th, 1957 with 16:44 GMT
Mass in orbit: 1,36 kg
Kind: Communications satellite

Description

The satellite is a sphere of 1,36 kg out of aluminum, 15,2 cm in diameter, almost identical to the future Vanguard 1. It contains a transmitter of 10 MW with 108 MHz connected on a battery with mercury and a transmitter of 5 MW to 108,03 MHz connected out of six solar cells rises on the body of the satellite.

Six short antennas are fixed on the sphere. The satellite also comprises two thermisters (thermo-resistances) to measure the interior temperatures in order to determine the effectiveness of thermal protection.

This small satellite was to make it possible to test the capacities of launching of a launcher on three floors and to study the effects of the environment on a satellite and its systems embarked in orbit. It was to also be used to obtain geodetic measurements.

Launching

With launching, the “booster rocket” ignites and the rocket starts to rise. But, two seconds after having left the ground and being themselves high approximately four feet (1,20 m), the rocket loses push and starts to fall down while leaning backwards. Having touched the launching pad violently, the fuel tanks break and explode, destroying the rocket and damaging the launching pad.

The Vanguard satellite is projected on the ground at a short distance, its transmitters continuing to emit. However, the satellite is damaged too much to be re-used.

It is currently exposed to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

The cause of the accident forever be given, can be is it due to a fuel leak between the tank and the rocket motor, itself due to a decrease in pressure in the tank making ebb the fuel ignited of the combustion chamber towards the tank.

Vanguard TV3BU

A counterpart of Vanguard TV3 which was balanced, it also, by a failure.

NSSDC ID : VAGT3B
Launching: February 5th, 1958
Mass in orbit: 1,36 kg
Kind: Communications satellite

Sources

NSSDC Master Catalog Display: Spacecraft.

External bond

of the explosion of Vanguard TV3

Random links: