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SPACE ADMiNISTRATION
iWashington, D. C. 20546
202-755-8370
FOR RELEASE:
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE NO: 75-88
fl , PROJECT: GEOS-C
'a contents
General Release . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 1-6
Spacecraft . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 13-14
Launch Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Contractors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...33
if a NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Washington, D. C. 20546
' / (Phone: 202/755-8370)
FOR RELEASE:
HowarU Allaway Immediate
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
(Phone: 202/755-8617)
Joyce Milliner
Wallops Flight Center, Wallops Island, Va.
(Phone: 804/824-3411 x579)
cisely the topography of the ocean surface and the sea state--
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March 31, 1975
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will be launched
40-kilogram (7 50-pound) satellite
The 3
near
rocket from the Western Test Range
aboard a Delta
altitude
into a circular orbit at an
Lompoc, California,
it will circle
kilometers (523 statute miles) where
of 843
65 degrees
101.8 minutes on a path inclined
Earth every
equator.
retrograde to the
the
will demonstrate the feasibility and
The spacecraft
the geometry
of satellite altimeters for measuring
utility
ocean
and mapping the topography of the
of the oceans
40 to
a precision to 1 to 2 meters (about
surfaces to within surface
pulses will be beamed to the ocean
80 inches). Radar
the
and their return timed to measure
from the satellite mean
from the sea surface, thus providing
satellite altitude of
in the determination
sea level determinations--importalt
ocean
field and in the detection of global
Earth's gravity
characteristics
The general shape or
circulation patterns. will
as reflected from the sea surface
of the returned pulses
areas surveyed--
a measure of the sea state in the
provide of
rough sea conditions or the effect
important in detecting
storms.
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to contribute to the
The altimeter data are expected
of the geoid--that is, the
refinement of present knowledge
ocean surface in the ab-
level that would be assumed by the
They will also provide
sence of winds, currents, and tides.
the ocean's surface that
a description of the behavior of
and winds. Thus the radar
varies with time due to currents
leading to highly
altimeter will contribute to technology
known so that
The orbit of GEOS-C must be accurately
ny the altimeter can be
the height above sea level measured
GEOS-C will be tracked
accurately calibrated. To do this,
doppler, C-band radar, and
from the ground by laser, radio
by Applications Tech-
S-band radar, as well as being tracked
making
nology Satellite-
6 (ATS-6), launched last year, thus
ever launched by NASA.
GEOS-C the best tracked spacecraft
the precision
In addition to altimeter calibration,
field information and
tracking will yield improved gravity
position location of ground
will make possible more precise
be useful in such studies
tracking stations. These data will
motion, Earth rotation,
of Earth dynamics as tectonic plate
theory.
polar motion, and continental drift
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management of NASA's
The GEOS-C Program is under the
NASA Wallops Flight Center
Office of Applications. The
for GEOS-C. Mission
has project management responsibility
NASA Goddard Space Flight
operations are managed by the
Delta launch vehicle project.
Center, which also manages the
fabricated by the Applied
The spacecraft was designed and
Hopkins University. Launch
Physics Laboratory of the Johns
the NASA Kennedy Space Center
site operations are managed by
INFORMATION FOlLOWS.)
(END OF GENERAL RELEASE; BACKGROUND
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BACKGROUND
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
to design, develop,
The purpose of the GEOS-C Project is and to perform
satellite
and launch an oceanographic/geodeticEarth and Ocean Physics
experiments in support of the NASA GEOS-C Project will apply
Applications Program (EOPAP). The investigations--oceanography
satellite techniques to geoscience
and solid-Earth physics--to:
utility of satellite a3ti-
1. Demonstrate the feasibility andthe ocean surface. With
meters for measuring the geometry of of the geocentric posi-
sufficient accuracy in the determination
tion of the spacecraft and
with suitable altimetry, the geometry
and sea level determinations
of the ocean surface can be described to refinement of the
can be made. This, in turn will contribute
is, the level that would
present knowledge of the geoid (thatthe absence of winds, currents,
be assumed bya the ocean surface in of the time-varying
and tides) and to the initial description
the larger quasi-steady state
behavioir of the ocean's surface and the geoid--sea surface slopes,
departures of the sea surface fromocean's surface, etc. The
tides, geological effects on the and measurement of
mission will provide data for the detection
state, wave heights, and
oceanographic features such as sea
major current systems.
data accuracy determina-
2. Contribute to the calibration, and satellite-
ground-based
tion, and improvement of candidate in ground tracking
borne tracking systems. The improvement coupled with the
accuracy, especially the laser tracking, solution of such problems
altimeter data will contribute to the gravity anomalies and
as detection and measurement of local field; the verification
the temporal variation of the gravitymotion, tectonic motions
of continental drift theory, polar crust), fault motions,
(changes in the structure of Earth's
and Earth rotation.
and make
3. Compare and correlate results obtained
and the tesults of analyses.
available both the observational data
scheduled for
The GEOS-C mission activities are presentlythe altimeter and
approximately a one-year period, although
objectives can be satis-
sea-surface topography feasibility be provided to refine the
fied in about six months. Data will
the National Geodetic Satel-
geodetic and geophysical results oftest bed for new systems and
lite Program (NGSP) and furnish a heavily toward the
techniques that are expected to contribute
to the development of
objectives of EOPAP and particularly
being planned for launch
SEASAT, a new oceanographic satellite the
in 1978. ihis mission will also contribute to fulfilling
requirements
Department of Defense C-band radar calibration of
both the Departments
and the altimeter requirement; of
Defense and Commerce.
,,MG1NAL PAGE IS
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MISSION OBJECTIVES
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sites in
7. To support the calibration of the S-Band by furnishing
NASA's Space Tracking and Data Network (STDN)in positioning
a space-borne S-Band transponder to assist
the world reference tracking system,
the network stations in system as a
and to assist in evaluating the unified S-Band
tool for geodesy and precision orbit determination.
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SPACFCRAFT
340-kilogram (750-pound)
GEOS-C is a densely packed, trun-
aluminum shell topped by a
satellite with an eight-sided (53 inches) wide and 81
cated pyramid. It is 132 centimeters basically the
centimeters (32 inches) high. was Its structure is
which launched January 11, 1968,
same as that of GEOS-2, to accommodate the
with the substitution of heavier trusses
additional weight.
perform experiments in sup- geo-
GEOS-C's main purpose is to to
of the application of geodetic satellite techniquesThe
port physics and oceanography.
sciences, i.d., solid Earth its objectives are:
experiments GEOS-C carries to achieve
to be carried on an un-
* A radar altimeter--the first the feasibility and utility
manned spacecraft--to demonstrate
to detect and measure oceano-
of using an on-board altimeterstate, wave heights, and major
graphic features such as sea
current systems.
to support the altimeter and
e Two C-band transponders to
well as for experimentationgravi-
C-band system calibration as system for geometric and
determine the accuracy of the
metric geodesy investigations.
satellite-to-satellite
* One S-band transponder for experiments to measure more
tracking and for Earth trackingand the gravity field.
precisely the satellite orbit
measuring the satellite
* Laser retroreflectors for
range at optical frequencies.
transmits on two coherent
* A radio Doppler system that satellite range rate data.
precision
frequencies used to obtain
retroreflectors, and the
The radar altimeter, laser a platform at the Earth-facing
on
various antennas are mounted
end of the satellite.
carry panels of solar
The spacecraft's outer surfaces
are designed to provide maximum
cells. The solar cell arraysminimum daily average fluctuations
solar cell power output and to sunlight as it orbits Earth.
in the satellite's exposure are mounted below three equatorial
Digital solar attitude sensors provide information on the
solar cell panels. These sensors to the Sun.
satellite's orientation relative
and the Doppler system
The C-band and S-band transponders
Also included in the satellite
are mounted in the satellite.telemetry system, and the battery
are the command system, the cell array. A three-axis vector
which is wired to the solar the satellite orientation with respect
magnetometer for measuring an electromagnet for stabilizing
to Earth s magnetic field and mount.ed in.t--atell-ite.
are also
the satellite magnetically
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INVESTIGATIONS
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GEOS-C mission will conduct investigations
The
specific categories:
expected to be obtained
One of the important results the
is improved definition of
from the GEOS-C altimeter worldwide knowledge of the ocean
ocean geoid. At present,from satellite gravity field data
geoid is available only variations with widths of the order
which, at best, defines 900 miles) or larger. The
satel-
of 1500 kilometers (about and/or accuracy of 1 to 2
lite altimeter, with precision
has the potential for greatly
meters (40 to 80 inches),the ocean geoid in those substan-
increasing knowledge of where no detailed surface gravity
tial parts of the ocean contributing to increased accuracy
data exists, as well as gravity and other types of
'.n those areas where surface
gravity data exist.
Ocean Tides
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Geological Investigations
Solid-Earth Dynamics
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PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
by many members
GEOS-C investigations will be conducted
Principal investigations are
of the scientific community.
listed by investigational category.
Ocean Geoid
Ocean Tides
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5.
Sea State
NOAA
Barrick, Dr. D. E.
NOAA
Blac, P. G.
Marine Sciences Directorate,
Gower, Dr. J. F. R, Victoria, B.C., Canada
NOAA
Ross, D.
NASA Wallops Flight Center
Walsh, Dr. E. J.
Wolf Pesearch and Development
Wells, Dr. W. T. Corporation.
Gravity MoeImrven
NOAA
,K Chovitz, B. H.
Computer Sciences Corporation
Khan, Dr. M1. A.
Dr. R. H. Ohio State Univej~sity
DEMRapp,
Geological Investigations
University of California
Kaula, Prof. W. M.
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory
Talwani, Dr. M.
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NOAA
Douglas, B. C.
Center
NASA Goddard Space Flight
Smith, Dr. D. E.
University of Texas
Tapley, Dr. B. D.
and Calibration
Intercomparison, Evaluation
Center
J. H. NASA Goddard Space Flight
Berbert,
Center
W. NASA Goddard Space Flight
Bryan, J.
Technology Service Corporation
Dooley, Dr. R. P.
DFVLR Mobile Raketenbasis,
Lutz, G. Federal Republic of Germany
Ground Truth
Battelle Memorial Institute
Mourad, A. G.
University Institute of
Pierson, Dr. W. J. oceanography
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orbit Determination
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at the Western
GEOS-C will be launched from SLC-2W
Delta launch vehicle. The
Test Range, Ca., by a two-stage (106 feet) long, with a
vehicle is approximately 32 metersfeet). The Delta has been
maximum body diameter of 2.4m (8 of the time for the past
launched successfully 90 per cent
14 years.
First Stage
Douglas modified Thor
The first stage is a McDonnell Thiokol Castor II solid-
booster incorporating four strap-onis powered by a Rocketdyne
fuel rocket motors. The booster and liquid hydrocarbon
MB-III B engine using liquid oxygengimbal-mounted to provide
propellants. The main engine is to main engine cutoff
pitch and yaw control from liftoff engines provide roll
(MECO). Two liquid-propellant vernier and pitch and yaw
control throughout first stage operation
of the first and second stages.
control from MECO to separation
Second stage
TRW' liqui'--fuel pressure-
The second stage is powered by a t- provide pitch
fed TR-201 engine that also is gimbal-mourited
burn. A nitrogen gas sys-
and yaw control through second stage roll control during
tem using eight fixed nozzles provides
as pitch and yaw control during
powered and coast flight as well Two fixed nozzles, fed by
coast and after second stage cutoff. system, provide retro-
the propellant-ank helium pressurization
thrust after spacecraft separation.
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LAUNCH OPERATIONS
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GEOS-C MANAGEMENT
NASA Headquarters
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Experiment Managers
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Support Organizations
Applied
Spacecraft and Experiment Hardware Contractor:
Physics Laboratory, Johns HoDkins University
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CONTRACTORS
HARDWARE
SUPPORT
RCA Corp.
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