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Gravity Gradient Technology Satellite
Gravity Gradient Technology Satellite
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Gravity Gradient Technology Satellite
Gravity Gradient Test Satellite (GGTS)
Gravity Gradient Technology Satellite (GGTS)
Mission typeGravity-gradient stabilization
OperatorUnited States Air Force
COSPAR ID1966-053A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.2207[1]
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass47 kilograms (104 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateJune 16, 1966 (1966-06-16Z) 14:00:01 UTC
RocketTitan IIIC
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC41
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeosynchronous
Perigee altitude33,663 kilometers (20,917 mi)
Apogee altitude33,858 kilometers (21,038 mi)
Inclination4.2°
Period1,334.00 minutes[2]

The Gravity Gradient Test Satellite was launched by the US Air Force from Cape Canaveral LC41 aboard a Titan IIIC rocket on June 16, 1966, at 14:00:01 UTC.[3] The satellite was launched along with seven IDCSP satellites, with which it shared a bus.[4] In contrast to the solar-powered IDCSP satellites, GGTS was battery powered.[4]

GGTS utilized the 26.4-pound (12.0 kg) Magnetically Anchored Gravity Systems (MACS), which consisted of two identical subsystem packages, each containing an extensible rod unit and a magnetically anchored spherical viscous damper.[5] The rod units had an extended length of 15.8 meters (52 ft),[5] and their 5-kilogram (11 lb) damper tip weights gave the satellite a symmetric dumbbell configuration.[5] The dampers were produced by General Electric and consisted of two concentric spheres separated by a viscous damping fluid.[5] The internal sphere contained a hollow cylindrical magnet which served to "anchor' the inner sphere to the Earth's magnetic field,[5] stabilizing the satellite over time.[4]

It had been hoped that within 60 days of launch, the satellite would reach a stabilization of ±8° on the x- and y-axis.[4] The results were compromised, as one of the dampers was magnetically contaminated.[4]

A follow-up GGTS mission was lost due to a launch vehicle failure on August 28, 1966.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "GGTS 1". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  2. ^ "GGTS". Astronautix. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  3. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathon's Space Report. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "GGTS 1,2". Gunter's Space Report. Retrieved 22 Nov 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e Weygandt, P.; Moyer, R. (August 1966). Attitude Control for the Gravity Gradient Test Satellite. Guidance and Control Conference. doi:10.2514/6.1966-1821 – via American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
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