Westford Needles

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Class: Communications. Type: Passive. Nation: USA.

In an attempt to lay a radio-reflective ring around the world, small metal dipole needles were allowed to sublimate out of a matrix. The experiment was greatly criticized by astronomers who feared optical and radio pollution. However the needles apparently didn't work as a radio reflector and the feared effects did not come to pass.

Associated Launch Vehicle: Atlas LV-3A / Agena B.

Westford Needles Chronology

1961 October 21 - Westford - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Atlas.

1962 April 9 - West Ford Drag - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Atlas.

1963 May 9 - Westford - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Atlas.

Bibliography:

McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
McDowell, Jonathan, Launch Log, October 1998. Web Address when accessed: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~jcm/space/log/launch.html.

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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.