OV1

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OV1
Credit - USAF

Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Nation: USA. Agency: U.S. Air Force. Manufacturer: Convair.

The OV1, originally called SATAR, was designed to carry a variety of scientific experiments into orbit in a special pod on the Atlas booster when the lift capability of the Atlas was not fully utilized by other experiments thus providing an economical satellite with "bonus" experiments. The OV1 had its own propulsion system which was fired after the satellite was ejected from the booster vehicle.

The OVl remained inside the Atlas-retained structure during the Atlas flight to protect it from aerodynamics loading and heating. The space vehicle coasted for about 8 minutes in space as pre-programmed attitude control maneuvers were performed on command of the propulsion module guidance system to position it for firing of its solid-fuelled motor. OV1 could be launched singly on the side of Atlas or in dual pods on the booster nose. Once in space, it could attain near-circular or highly elliptical earth orbits, high altitude probes or high velocity re-entry missions. Each OV1 could carry a 36 kg payload. Total mass on the Atlas was 1,113 kg for the dual pod load. The satellite was 1.40 m long and 0.68 m in diameter. Contracting agency was the USAF's Office of Aerospace Research. Prime Contractor was Convair Division of General Dynamics Corporation. Associate Contractor was Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory (propulsion system).

Typical orbit: 496 x 2301 km, 103.5 deg inclinaton. Length: 1.40 m (4.50 ft). Maximum Diameter: 0.68 m (2.23 ft). Mass: 555 kg (1,223 lb). Payload: 36 kg (79 lb).

OV1 Chronology

1965 January 21 - OV1-01 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. FAILURE: Failure. Mass: 85 kg (187 lb).
Failure.

1965 January 21 - OV1-1 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. FAILURE: Failure.

1965 May 28 - OV1-03 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. FAILURE: Failure.

1965 October 5 - NB20.170 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas.

1965 October 5 - OV1-02S - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas.

1965 October 5 - OV1-02 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 86 kg (189 lb). Perigee: 408 km (253 mi). Apogee: 2,735 km (1,699 mi). Inclination: 144.20 deg. Period: 117.60 min.
Radiation data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1966 March 30 - OV1-05S - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 114 kg (251 lb). Perigee: 985 km (612 mi). Apogee: 1,056 km (656 mi). Inclination: 144.60 deg. Period: 105.60 min.
Optical radiation test. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1966 March 30 - OV1-04S - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas.

1966 March 30 - OV1-04 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 88 kg (194 lb). Perigee: 884 km (549 mi). Apogee: 1,008 km (626 mi). Inclination: 144.50 deg. Period: 104.00 min.
Thermal control experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1966 July 14 - OV1-08 PasComSat - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. FAILURE: Partial Failure. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1966 July 14 - OV1-07 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. FAILURE: Partial Failure. Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Perigee: 985 km (612 mi). Apogee: 1,022 km (635 mi). Inclination: 144.20 deg. Period: 105.20 min.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1966 November 3 - OV1-06S - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC40. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 202 kg (445 lb). Perigee: 287 km (178 mi). Apogee: 290 km (180 mi). Inclination: 32.80 deg. Period: 90.30 min.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1966 December 11 - OV1-10 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Perigee: 541 km (336 mi). Apogee: 604 km (375 mi). Inclination: 93.40 deg. Period: 96.10 min.
Radiation data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1966 December 11 - OV1-09 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 230 kg (500 lb). Perigee: 475 km (295 mi). Apogee: 4,582 km (2,847 mi). Inclination: 99.10 deg. Period: 139.40 min.
Radiation bio-hazard experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1967 July 27 - OV1-08S - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. FAILURE: Partial Failure. Mass: 118 kg (260 lb). Perigee: 529 km (328 mi). Apogee: 557 km (346 mi). Inclination: 101.60 deg. Period: 95.50 min.
Carried cosmic ray telescope. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1967 July 27 - OV1-11 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. FAILURE: Partial Failure.
OV-1 11 did not reach orbit.

1967 July 27 - OV1-12S - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. FAILURE: Partial Failure. Mass: 140 kg (300 lb). Perigee: 497 km (308 mi). Apogee: 579 km (359 mi). Inclination: 101.70 deg. Period: 95.40 min.
Solar flare observations. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1968 April 6 - OV1-14 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 101 kg (222 lb). Perigee: 568 km (352 mi). Apogee: 9,858 km (6,125 mi). Inclination: 100.00 deg. Period: 207.00 min.
Radiation data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1968 April 6 - OV1-13 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 107 kg (235 lb). Perigee: 587 km (364 mi). Apogee: 9,214 km (5,725 mi). Inclination: 100.00 deg. Period: 198.70 min.
Radiation, engineering experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1968 July 11 - OV1-15S - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 470 kg (1,030 lb). Perigee: 153 km (95 mi). Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Inclination: 89.80 deg. Period: 104.60 min.
Studied relationship between atmospheric density and solar radiation. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1968 July 11 - OV1-16 Cannonball 1 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 600 kg (1,320 lb). Perigee: 145 km (90 mi). Apogee: 556 km (345 mi). Inclination: 89.80 deg. Period: 91.50 min.
Ionospheric drag tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1969 March 18 - OV1-17A Orbiscal 2 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 221 kg (487 lb). Perigee: 175 km (108 mi). Apogee: 309 km (192 mi). Inclination: 99.10 deg. Period: 89.40 min.
Radio beacon mountedon OV17 propulsion module. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1969 March 18 - OV1-19S - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 124 kg (273 lb). Perigee: 483 km (300 mi). Apogee: 5,551 km (3,449 mi). Inclination: 104.80 deg. Period: 151.10 min.
Radiation experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1969 March 18 - OV1-18S - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 125 kg (275 lb). Perigee: 466 km (289 mi). Apogee: 583 km (362 mi). Inclination: 98.90 deg. Period: 95.20 min.
Ionospheric, radiation, electric field data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1969 March 18 - OV1-17S - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 142 kg (313 lb). Perigee: 400 km (240 mi). Apogee: 466 km (289 mi). Inclination: 99.10 deg. Period: 93.20 min.
Solar radiation experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1971 August 7 - OV1-20P - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 70 kg (154 lb). Perigee: 136 km (84 mi). Apogee: 1,932 km (1,200 mi). Inclination: 92.00 deg. Period: 105.90 min.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1971 August 7 - OV1-21P - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 70 kg (154 lb). Perigee: 778 km (483 mi). Apogee: 896 km (556 mi). Inclination: 87.60 deg. Period: 101.70 min.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

Bibliography:

McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Web Address when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.
Bramscher, Robert G, Spaceflight, "A Survey of Launch Vehicle Failures", 1980, Volume 22, page 351.
Lockheed Martin Coporation, Atlas Family Fact Sheets, September 1998.. Web Address when accessed: http://www.lmco.com/ILS/txtmain/ils_lsysinfo.htm.
McDowell, Jonathan, Launch Log, October 1998. Web Address when accessed: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~jcm/space/log/launch.html.
Aerospace Yearbook, 1966,

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