Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z
HEAO
HEAO
HEAO
Credit: NASA
American x-ray astronomy satellite. The 3 satellites of the High Energy Astronomical Observatory program surveyed the celestial sphere for X-ray sources and gamma and cosmic ray phenomena. Astronomy, X-Ray, Gamma satellite built by TRW for NASA, USA. Launched 1977. Used HEAO Bus.

AKA: High Energy Astronomical Observatory. Status: Operational 1977. First Launch: 1977-08-12. Last Launch: 1979-09-20. Number: 3 . Gross mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Height: 9.00 m (29.50 ft).

HEAO 1 was primarily a survey mission, dedicated to systematically mapping the X-ray sky every 6 months. HEAO 1 performed almost 3 full celestial surveys and discovered 1500 new X-ray sources. HEAO 2 (also named Einstein) was the world's first orbiting imaging X-ray telescope and returned detailed quasar images and discovered that Jupiter and Earth emit X-rays. The satellite also made over 5,000 targeted observations and discovered several thousand "serendipitous" sources that fell within the field of view of its imaging instruments. HEAO-3 was designed to detect cosmic ray particles and gamma-ray photons to further the understanding of the strength and extent of interstellar magnetic fields, the distribution of interstellar matter, and the stellar nucleosynthesis process which has created the heavy elements contained in most ordinary matter. All three of the High Energy Astronomy Observatories were regarded as highly successful. The total cost of the program was about $250 million. HEAO 1 re-entered 3/15/79, HEAO 2 re-entered 3/25/82, and HEAO 3 re-entered 12/7/81.

The spacecraft was 3-axis stabilized. Fixed solar panels generated 600 watts and recharged NiCd batteries (24 AHr). The aluminum honeycomb structure used passive thermal control. The hydrazine propulsion system had 110 kg fuel and 6 dual thrusters. S-Band communications used omni antennas. The attitude control system provided arcminute pointing accuracy and arcsecond attitude determination.

Payloads for HEAO 1 were:

HEAO 2 carried an X-ray telescope sensitive over the approximate energy range 0.2-3.5 keV. The telescope focused energy on one of four instruments:

. HEAO-2 also carried the Monitor Proportional Counter (MPC), which monitored the 1-20 keV X-ray flux of the sources being observed by the telescope, as well as a Broad Band Filter (BBFS) spectrometer and an Objective Grating Spectrometer (OGS).

HEAO 3 carried a gamma ray spectrometer with 4 cryogenically cooled germanium detectors, each with an energy range of 50 keV to 10 MeV.


More at: HEAO.

Subtopics

HEAO 2 (Einstein) Null

HEAO 3 Astronomy, X-Ray, Gamma satellite built by TRW for NASA, USA. Launched 1979. Used HEAO Bus.

Family: Astronomy, Medium earth orbit, X-ray astronomy satellite. Country: USA. Launch Vehicles: Atlas, Atlas SLV-3D Centaur. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC36B. Agency: NASA, NASA Huntsville. Bibliography: 2, 278, 279, 6, 6551, 12528, 12529, 12530.
Photo Gallery

HEAO 1HEAO 1
Credit: Manufacturer Image


HEAO 2HEAO 2
Credit: Manufacturer Image


HEAO 3HEAO 3
Credit: Manufacturer Image



1973 Feb - . LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan IIIC.
1977 August 12 - . 06:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas SLV-3D Centaur.
1978 November 13 - . 05:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas SLV-3D Centaur.
1979 September 20 - . 05:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas SLV-3D Centaur.

Back to top of page
Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z
© 1997-2019 Mark Wade - Contact
© / Conditions for Use