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OAO SPACECRAFT
objects visible to the naked eye. With the use of radio astronomy
astronomical exploration is possible with the launchings of the OAO's. As in previous ex-
plorations which employed new techniques and equipment, the GAG will first undertake a
skymapping operation.
'l'here exist several narrow windows through which man can view the universe around
him. The earliest, naked-eye observers were limited to a rather restricted view lying
entIrely wItmn tne VlslDle spectrum. 'l'ne Iirst optical telescope served to enhance and
Sharpen this view but did not widen the window. Not satisfied with this limited outlook,
science next developed photographic plates and other photo-detection systems which broadened
me wmaow, gIving tne observer a view 01 tne spectrum whicn extended further into the ultra-
Violet at one ena ana turther into the intrarea at the other. Raaio astronomy opened an
in our own time we have seen the optical window widened in the ultraviolet direction
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from about 3900 Angstroms (A) wavelength down to about 3000 A by photographic and
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photoelectric effects. As an example, the two photographs of Crab Nebula show the
enhancement of our view of the heavens by shifting the spectral window. Widening this
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window below -3000 A. is expected to further enhance the view. The lower spectral
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limit at 3000 A has been set, not by our technology, but by a natural limit imposed by
the earth's atmosphere. Energy radiated to us from the heavens at wavelengths below
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we know that many stars must emit in the 1000 to 3000 A range. This emission is a
natural function of bodies operating at temperatures between 4000 and 8000 Kelvin.
Only by establishing an ultraviolet observatory far outside the earth's atmosphere will
we be able to observe such emissions for extended periods This is the function of the
OAO.
Celescope and the Wisconsin University package), each looking out opposite ends of the
OAO's central tube, and mated at the midsection of the spacecraft. This obs~rvatory
is to operate at -22°F -30°C) with a permissible deviation in temperature of:!: 27°F for
its one-year life. The observatory can look at any point in the sky, except the 450 cone
about the earth-sun line when 300 to the sun. If the telescope is thermally tied to the
spacecraft central tube via radiation interchange and insulated from the space environ-
OAO-A2 along with Smithsonian's Celescope. The primary function is to gather spec-
tral energy distribution information on selected stars and nebulae in the ultra-violet
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range (1000 to 4000 A). As a secondary function, WEP will measure time-varying
spectral intensity data on particular stars. This function requires repetitive measure-
menta.
WEP consists of two major packages, the Prime Instrument Package and the
Control Electronics Package. The former is subdivided into seven observing instru-
ments:
bandwidths.
the range from 1000 to 2000 A, the other from 2000 to 4000 A; the spectrome-
ters may be cycled in 100 steps, thereby yielding a spectral band intensity
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only 10 or 20 A wide.
from 1500 to 3800 A. Each of the seven instruments is equipped with both
analog and digital output circuits. Gain, exposure time and filter position are
The WEP and the Smithsonian skymapping experiment are each located in one-
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Smithsonian Experiment
The SAG, Project Celescope, a term derived from celestial telescope, is designed
from 1200 A to 2900 A. The Celescope consists of four independent, 12-inch diameter
2300 A to 2900 A. The Uvicon is a special TV vidicon designed to operate in the ultra-
violet region. The four UV readings will be used to determine the shape of the spectral-
energy distribution curves for different types of stars. In addition to studying the single
stars, the brighter gaseous and planetary nebulae and interstellar absorption will be
The OAO will point the experimental package toward preselected areas of the sky
as directed by ground station command. Reorientation and fine pointing commands will
be carried out while the OAO is out of contact with, but approaching, the specific ground
slews the OAO into proper orientation and turns on all calibrator lamps five minutes
or more before beginning a ground-station pass. Calibration exposures are made during
the first three minutes of the pass and stored on the Uvicon targets as electrical charge
patterns until the full facilities of the OAO are available to Celescope. First, the
Uvicons are scanned in the digital-direct mode and the first picture, including calibra-
tion information, is transmitted to the ground through the wide-band transmitter; the
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one or more standard C elescope data sequences are commanded, depending on the
length of the pass over the groWld station. Each of these sequences includes a 60-
second exposure and digital-direction scan for each camera. The four exposures are
commenced and terminated nearly simultaneously. The remainder of the pass is used
to send real-time commands to the GAG to control the Celescope sequence of operations
During the remaining minutes of the pass the command memory may be loaded
for operations to be performed during the rest of the orbit including slewing 1.8 degrees
to the next position, and the status may be read out through the wide-band transmitter.
tion, the region of the sky containing the constellation Orion, with its large number of
steady-state high stars in the UV, will be surveyed early in the life of the OAO This
area will serve as a prime calibration source for the experiment during later orbits
since it will remain constant while the onboard calibration lamps may deteriorate.
Instrumentation
Optical
telescope optics with a UV detector television tube at the focal plane. The cameras,
each having a Uvicon tube with high-voltage power supply and video preamplifier, are
mounted in the experiment package which is inserted into the central tube of the
spacecraft.
Structural
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conditions (+ 300 to -50°C) while maintaining correct focus of the optics. Most of the
essentially part of the GAG. The experiment container is so constructed that the indi-
vidual optical elements and telescope modules can be aligned in the laboratory.
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Through rocket flights, astronomers have been able to examine the spectra of a
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limited number of stars in the region below 3000 A, and then only with low resolution
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(50 A) instruments. The GEP is expected to examine about 14,000 stars a year, at first
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and 0.05 A. GEP will be carried on GAG-B, the third flight vehicle.
of the ultraviolet spectra of stars at high dispersion. The telescope has a clear aper-
ture of approximately 32 inches, a speed of f/3 and an effective focal length of 630 inches
The high resolution requirements of both the GEP and PEP experiments necessi-
tate a corresponding high degree of pointing accuracy of the OAO. Since the control
system star trackers of the GAG have a limiting accuracy of one minute of arc, an ex"':
periment fine guidance error signal is provided to the spacecraft. This signal is fed to
the GAG control system which maintains the GAG in a given attitude to an accuracy of
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FACT SHEET
Spacecraft Manager
National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration
Greenbelt, Maryland
Prime Contractor
GAG Experiments
ate in the ultraviolet region. 'l'hiS paCKage Will measure the brightness ot
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Sarasota. Florida
Tracking and Data-Acquisition Stat!ons (Operated under the supervision of OAO Control
Cleveland. Ohio
Launch Site Complex 36B, Cape Kennedy Space Center, Cape Kennedy, Florida
Orbit 480 statute mile circular orbit inclined 350 to the Equator
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10 feet in length.
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.Operated
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Antennas:
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Star Tracker Signal Controller Mode Selector generates control signal for
each Star Tracker selecting either the
Command or Track Mode.
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Sensors
Disable eye
Rate Gyros Three gyros, one for each axis, the voltage
output of each being proportional to the
angular rate about its sensing axis.
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Sensors (Continued)
Actuators
lnertia WneelS:
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Digital Logic Unit (DLU) Process signals from PPDS for distribution
to six Gimballed Star Trackers.
Sensor Signal Processor (SSP) Sums, averages, weighs, and amplifies error
signals from all Sun Sensors and Rate Gyros
for distribution to system actuators (Fine
Inertia Wheels, Low Thrust Jets, and High
Thrust Jets).
Fine Wheel and Jet Controller Controls all Fine Inertia Wheels, Low
(FW&JC) Thrust Jets, and High Thrust Jets using
error signals supplied by the STSP and SSP.
Coarse Wheel Controller (CWC) Controls Coarse Inertia Wheels used for
spacecraft reorientation.
High Torque Controller (HTC) Controls torque mode (high and low) of Fine
Inertia Wheels.
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Gyro Unit Three gyros, one for each axis, the voltage
output of each being proportional to the
angular rate/position about its sensing
axis.
GPO 874-936