The NASA Spartan program was developed as 2 direct outgrowth of the NASA sounding rocket program. Designed to extend the observing time of sounding rocket class experiments from a few minutes to several hours, the Spartan family of reusable satellites will provide extended observation time for a large variety of astrophysics experiments. A series of missions to support studies in the area of High Energy Astrophysics, Solar Studies, Ultraviolet Astronomy, and Cometary Studies are manifested for flights in the 1986-1988 period. The Spartans are designed to be deployed and retrieved by the Orbiter using the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS). Once deployed, the Spartan will perform scientific observations for up to 40 hours. All pointing sequences and satellite control commands are stored onboard the Spartan in a microcomputer controller. All data is recorded on a 10th bits tape recorded. No command or telemetry link is provided. Once the Spartan has completed its observing sequence, it 'safes' all systems and places itself in a stable attitude to permit retrieval by the Orbiter and return to Earth for data analysis and preparation for a new mission. Spartan Halley is the second in this continuing series of low cost-free flyers. The experiment is an ultraviolet spectrometer and will make observations of the Comet Halley close to perihelion. It will be looking for cometary composition constituents and their rates of change during this highly active period in the cometary lifecycle. The instruments being used have flown on sounding rockets as well as the Mariner spacecraft.
Spartan Halley Prelaunch Report
1986
22 pages
Report
No indication
English
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