Ariel 6
Encyclopedia
Ariel 6, also known as Ariel VI and UK-6, was a British
satellite launched in 1979 as part of the Ariel programme. It was operated by the Science Research Council
, which became the Science and Engineering Research Council
in 1981. Ariel 6 was used for astronomical
research, and operated until February 1982. It was the last Ariel satellite to be launched.
The spacecraft was manufactured by the Marconi Company
, and had a mass of 155 kilograms (341.7 lb). It carried three instruments; two of which were used for x-ray astronomy
, and one which was used to detect cosmic ray
s. Interference from radar
signals prevented the satellite from pointing correctly, and affected the data that it returned.
A Scout D-1 carrier rocket, serial number
S198C, was used to launch Ariel 6 from Launch Area 3A
at the Wallops Flight Center
. The launch was successfully conducted at 23:26:00 UTC on 2 June 1979. The satellite was placed into a low Earth orbit
, and received the International Designator
1979-047A.
Ariel 6 operated in an orbit with an apogee
of 651 kilometres (404.5 mi), a perigee
of 605 kilometres (375.9 mi), 55 degrees of inclination and an orbital period of 97.3 minutes. It decayed
from orbit and reentered the atmosphere on 23 September 1990.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
satellite launched in 1979 as part of the Ariel programme. It was operated by the Science Research Council
Science and Engineering Research Council
The Science and Engineering Research Council used to be the UK agency in charge of publicly funded scientific and engineering research activities including astronomy, biotechnology and biological sciences, space research and particle physics...
, which became the Science and Engineering Research Council
Science and Engineering Research Council
The Science and Engineering Research Council used to be the UK agency in charge of publicly funded scientific and engineering research activities including astronomy, biotechnology and biological sciences, space research and particle physics...
in 1981. Ariel 6 was used for astronomical
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
research, and operated until February 1982. It was the last Ariel satellite to be launched.
The spacecraft was manufactured by the Marconi Company
Marconi Company
The Marconi Company Ltd. was founded by Guglielmo Marconi in 1897 as The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company...
, and had a mass of 155 kilograms (341.7 lb). It carried three instruments; two of which were used for x-ray astronomy
X-ray astronomy
X-ray astronomy is an observational branch of astronomy which deals with the study of X-ray observation and detection from astronomical objects. X-radiation is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, so instruments to detect X-rays must be taken to high altitude by balloons, sounding rockets, and...
, and one which was used to detect cosmic ray
Cosmic ray
Cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating from outer space. They may produce secondary particles that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The term ray is historical as cosmic rays were thought to be electromagnetic radiation...
s. Interference from radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
signals prevented the satellite from pointing correctly, and affected the data that it returned.
A Scout D-1 carrier rocket, serial number
Serial number
A serial number is a unique number assigned for identification which varies from its successor or predecessor by a fixed discrete integer value...
S198C, was used to launch Ariel 6 from Launch Area 3A
Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3
Launch Area 3 at the Wallops Flight Facility is a launch complex which was used, mostly by Scout rockets, between 1960 and 1985. Forty one Scout launches occurred from the complex, making both orbital and suborbital. In addition, four Nike sounding rockets were launched from the complex in...
at the Wallops Flight Center
Wallops Flight Facility
Wallops Flight Facility , located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, is operated by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, primarily as a rocket launch site to support science and exploration missions for NASA and other U.S. government agencies...
. The launch was successfully conducted at 23:26:00 UTC on 2 June 1979. The satellite was placed into a low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
, and received the International Designator
International Designator
The International Designator, also known as COSPAR designation, and in the United States as NSSDC ID, is an international naming convention for satellites...
1979-047A.
Ariel 6 operated in an orbit with an apogee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 651 kilometres (404.5 mi), a perigee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 605 kilometres (375.9 mi), 55 degrees of inclination and an orbital period of 97.3 minutes. It decayed
Orbital decay
Orbital decay is the process of prolonged reduction in the altitude of a satellite's orbit.This can be due to drag produced by an atmosphere due to frequent collisions between the satellite and surrounding air molecules. The drag experienced by the object is larger in the case of increased solar...
from orbit and reentered the atmosphere on 23 September 1990.