Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 3: Space Vehicles
Solrad
 
Copyright © 2005 Jos Heyman
(HTML formatting by Andreas Parsch)

Solrad

The Solrad series of satellites were sponsored by the US Navy in a program to continuously monitor the Sun. The satellites investigated solar X-rays and particle emissions which cause disturbances in the ionosphere. They were also called Galactic Radiation Experiment Background (GREB) or Sunray and the information gathered enabled an assessment of the disturbances on satellite and ground based communications.

In 1998 it was revealed that the early satellites also carried a signal intelligence payload to interrogate USSR air defense radars. This payload was known as Galactic Radiation and Background (GRAB) and had the code name Poppy, later changed to Dyno. It involved only a few of the Solrad series of satellites and later satellites in the series appear to be of a pure scientific nature.

Name Intl. Designation Launch Re-entry Notes
Solrad-11960 η222-Jun-1960  
Solrad-2---30-Nov-1960---Failed to orbit
Solrad-31961 ο229-Jun-1961 Failed to separate from Injun-1
Solrad-4A---24-Jan-1962---Failed to orbit
Solrad-4B---26-Apr-1962---Failed to orbit
Solrad-5A(No data)
Solrad-5B1964-001E11-Jan-1964  
Solrad-6A1963-021C15-Jun-19631-Aug-1963 
Solrad-6B1965-016A9-Mar-1965 Also known as Ferret-12 and Ops-4988
Solrad-7A1964-001D11-Jan-1964  
Solrad-7B1965-016D9-Mar-1965  
Solrad-81965-093A19-Nov-1965 Also known as Explorer-30
Solrad-91968-017A5-Mar-196816-Nov-1990Also known as Explorer-37
Solrad-101971-058A8-Jul-197115-Dec-1979Also known as Explorer-44
Solrad-11A1976-023C15-Mar-1976  
Solrad-11B1976-023D15-Mar-1976  

Launch dates of the Solrad series

Solrad-1 studied, in particular, the hydrogen Lyman-alpha and X-ray radiation continuously over a period of time. For these purposes it carried two Lyman-alpha ionisation chambers and an X-ray ionisation chamber.

Photo: Author's collection
Solrad-1 (1960 η2)


Solrad-2 was identical to Solrad-1 but was destroyed by the range safety officer on launch.

Solrad-3 used two X-ray sensors and a detector to measure solar X-ray emissions to plot how the solar X-rays disturb the ionosphere and to seek basic data on the cause of radio black-outs on Earth during periods of solar flare activity. It was launched simultaneously with the Transit-4A and Injun-1 satellites, but remained attached to Injun-1.

Solrad-4A was part of a payload of five satellites, sometimes referred to as Composite-1 and which failed to attain orbit due to the malfunction of the second stage of the launch vehicle. The satellite, which was to continue the study of X-rays and Lyman-alpha radiation from the Sun, carried four Lyman-alpha detectors and four X-ray detectors. Solrad-4B, which was identical to Solrad-4A, also failed to achieve orbit.

Solrad-5B (there is no information on Solrad-5A) provided data to establish basic minimum energy flux during the absence of solar flares. It carried five photometers to measure the X-ray emission and one photometer to measure ultraviolet radiation.

Solrad-6A, which was launched before Solrad-5B, was equipped with four X-ray detectors and four Lyman-alpha detectors. Solrad-6B repeated the experiments and objectives of Solrad-6A.

Both Solrad-7A and -7B monitored the solar activity and provided data to establish the basic minimum energy flux during the absence of solar flares. They carried each five photometers to measure X-ray emissions in various bands and one photometer to measure ultraviolet radiation.

Solrad-8, also known as Explorer-30, was launched as part of the International Year of the Quiet Sun. It monitored solar X-rays and readings were correlated with ground observations. It carried ion chambers and Geiger-Müller counters for the measurement of X-rays and ultraviolet radiation.

Solrad-9, also known as Explorer-37, carried five X-ray photometers, two ultraviolet photometers and two Geiger-Müller counters to measure and monitor selected solar X-ray and ultraviolet emissions.

Photo: Author's collection
Solrad-9 (1968-017A)


Solrad-10, also referred to as Explorer-44, continued to monitor the solar radiation and also measured stellar radiation from other celestial sources. It carried fourteen experiments, including:

Photo: Author's collection
Solrad-10 (1971-058A)


Solrad-11A and -11B were two identical satellites which were launched simultaneously and were placed in an orbit with an altitude of about 20 Earth radii to provide real time monitoring of solar X-rays, as well as ultraviolet and energetic particle emissions. The payload included:

Photo: Author's collection
Solrad-11A (1976-023C)


Solrad-11A and Solrad-11B were spaced 180° apart. A third satellite in the series was constructed but was not launched.


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Last Updated: 12 April 2005