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NASA FACTS
NASA FACTS Number-
Volume I of NASA FACTS
consists of all issues pub-
lished prior to July 1964
and running from A-62 to
8-2-64. Volume II begins
with NASA FACTS, Inter-
planetary Explorer Satellites,
Vol . II , No .1 . An Educational Services Publication of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
INTERPLANETARY EXPLORER.
SATELLITES N64-2871!
{).it~/ ~J
Before man can travel to other celestial bodies, tion and magnetic fields in space between the
he must solve mysteries about space which have earth and moon during a majo r part of the solar
defied centuries of observation. A significant cycle. The solar cycle refers to a period of ap-
step toward this goal is being made through a proximately 11 years during which the frequency
series of satellites called Interplanetary Explorers, of solar eruptions reaches a maximum, a mini·
the first of which, Explorer XVIII, was launched mum, and then again, a maximum.
November 26, 1963. As their name implies, Interplanetary Explorers
Interplanetary Explorers are aimed primarily are designed principally to gather information on
at acquiring additional knowledge about radia- conditions in interplanetary space, which begins
Page 2 NASA FACTS Vol. II, No. 1
COSMIC RAYS
, 1\
-,
\\ LOWER ENERGY
INTERSTELLAR
COSMIC RAYS
, 1\
/"r _...
" 'J
LOCATION OF
.\ SOLAR FLARE ••••••••• _ _
\)\ ......~
',\ ..
~~
~:----
--
~
-
SOLAR COSMIC RAYS AND MAGNETIC
\\~~ - -... FIELD CLOUD FOLLOWING SOLAR FLARE
SUN I'l·· •••••• -__ ___
~
II t• .............------...
• • • • -. =---.....
...------- ~
,I ••••• ·......
-------
..
(,'j
(
... ......-----
~
) • • •__0""11"1~
LOWER ENERGY
INTERSTELLAR
COSMIC RAYS
I"
Artist's conception of cloud of cosm ic rays and magnetic field emitted fram the sun following a so lar flare and
how it envelops earth creating the Forbush effect (see text)_
volts. Energies of cosmic rays from beyond the bush decrease for Scott E. Forbush, Carnegie
solar system, principally from our Milky Way Institution, Washington, D.C., who first noted it
galaxy but sometimes from other parts of the more than two decades ago .
Universe, are in the millions, billions, and trillions At the same time, however, the solar cosmic
of electron volts. rays follow the lines of force of the solar mag-
netic field and penetrate earth 's magnetic field
to a depth where they collide with the air mole-
cules and atoms of the atmosphere . Among
SOLAR FLARES
the effects on earth that are linked to this phe-
The most violent of solar eruptions is the solar nomenon are radio black-outs, or interference,
flare which fires a vast cloud of cosmic rays into and the auroras, or Northern and Southern
space. Scientists theorize that the cloud drags lights, that from time to time illum inate the night
a part of the sun's magnetic field with it. skies over certain areas of the globe.
If the cloud reaches earth's vicinity, its acc o m- During such an event, astronauts traveling
panying magnetic field screens earth from some above the protective shields of earth's atmos-
of the cosmic rays that originate outside of the phere and magnetic field could be endangered
solar system. This is believed to account for the by lethal radiation. Accurate long-range fore-
phenomenon in which a sudden decrease of these casts of solar flares are vital to preparations for
cosmic rays striking earth was observed to fol- Project Apollo which calls for manned explora-
Iowa solar flare. The event is called the For- tion of the moon in this decade.
-~-~---~---~-~- - - -~-
'--~-- - - - ---'- - -
Call-outs designate major equipment of Explorer XVIII, Artist's drawing (not in scale) of initial orbit of Explorer XVIII.
the first Interplanetary Explorer.
• •
------------- --
Page 6 NASA FACTS Vol. II, No. 1
the sun's, moon's, and the earth's gravitational
pulls. One result is that the spacecraft's peri-
gee, or closest approach to earth, will rise.
Another is that the inclination or tilt of its orbit
hom the equator will increase. Such pronounced
changes expected over a relatively short time
present scientists with an unusual opportunity to
study the motions of an object in space that are
significantly influenced by several gravitational
fields.
• Magnetic fields, solar wind (energetic particles), the shock wave, and region of turbulence as indicated by
Explorer XVIII (see text) . The magnetosphere is the region of space dominated by the geomagnetic field.
The magnetopause is the outer boundary of earth's magnetic field .
measured in relation to two or more tracking an- Doppler of Prague (now the capital of Czechoslo-
tenna systems, each of which has been precisely vakia). Our most familiar experience with the
oriented. From the an~ular measurements and Doppler shift is the apparent change in pitch, or
known distances between the antennas, other frequency, of a train whistle as the train ap-
orbit details, including altitude and speed of the proaches and passes us. Actually, the pitch of
satellite, are calculated. the train whistle has not changed.
The new range and range rate system pro- What occurs is that as the train approaches,
vides the spacecraft's altitude and velocity more the sound waves sent by its whistle in effect pile
directly and accurately. In the range and range up in our direction, resulting in a shorter pitch,
rate system, the ground station beams radio sig- frequency, or wave length. As the train pulls
nals to the satellite which in turn transmits to the away, the reverse takes place.
station. The round-trip time of the signals fur- In a similar manner, a satellite's radio trans-
nishes an immediate mea~urement of range, or mitter keeps sending signals at the sa me fre-
distance. The range rate, or velocity, of the ve- quency. However, the signals received by the
hicle is obtained by measuring the Doppler shift ground station change frequency as the satellite
of the signals received by the ground station. moves toward and away from the station. The
The phenomenon known as the Doppler shift rate of change in frequency indic<;ltes the speed
was first expounded in 1842 by Christian Johann of the satellite.
---- -- -- -- - _.-
r
---~-~- --- --------~ ---- ~.
Shock wave (curved dark band) is created by small early model of Mercury spacecraft in supersonic wind tunne l.
Special photographic processes make visible both the shock wave and turbulent air in craft's wake.
NASA FACTS format is designed for bulletin-board display NASA FACTS is an educational publication of NASA's Division
uncut, Or for 8 x lOY. looseleaf notebook insertion when of Educational Programs and Services. It will be mailed to
cut along dotted lines and folded along solid lines. For addressees who request it from: NASA, Educotional Publica-
notebook ring insertion, punch at solid dots in the margins. tions Distribution Center, AFEE-l, Washington, D.C., 20546.
For sale by the Super intendent of Documents , U.S . Government Pr inting Office
Washington, D.C., 20402 - Price 15 cents per copy