Encyclopedia entry

Alouette

Spacecraft · Canada

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Canadian earth magnetosphere satellite. Ionospheric research. Science satellite, Canada. Launched 1962 - 1965.

More at: Alouette.

Family: Earth, Magnetosphere sat
Country: Canada
Launch Vehicles: Thor, Delta, Thor Agena B, Thor SLV-2A Agena B, Thor SLV-2 Agena B
Launch Sites: Vandenberg, Vandenberg SLC2E
Agency: DRTE
Bibliography: 2, 279, 3565, 3566, 3567, 3568, 6, 6337, 12042

Chronology

2 events

06:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.

Alouette 1 - . Payload: Alouette 1 / TAVE. Mass: 145 kg (319 lb). Nation: Canada. Agency: Clemson. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Alouette. USAF Sat Cat: 424 . COSPAR: 1962-B-Alpha-1. Apogee: 1,022 km (635 mi). Perigee: 987 km (613 mi). Inclination: 80.50 deg. Period: 105.20 min. Ionospheric research. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .

04:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor SLV-2 Agena B.

Alouette 2 - . Payload: Alouette 2 / Explorer 31. Mass: 145 kg (319 lb). Nation: Canada. Agency: DRTE. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Alouette. USAF Sat Cat: 1804 . COSPAR: 1965-098A. Apogee: 2,666 km (1,656 mi). Perigee: 503 km (312 mi). Inclination: 79.80 deg. Period: 117.90 min.
Ionospheric research; data correlated with Explorer 31. The double-launch project, known as ISIS-X was the first in a new co-operative NASA-Canadian Defense Research Board program for International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies. Alouette was in orbit with an apogee just over a kilometre lower than Explorer 31's and with a perigee of just more than a kilometre higher. The orbits were some 3000 km at apogee and 500 km at perigee.