Detector, Plasma Wave, OGO-5

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Manufacturer
TRW Space & Technology Group
Summary
This is a flight spare for the sensor system carried on the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory V (OGO-V) satellite designed to measure the energy characteristics in the radiation belts surrounding the Earth. The long boom carries a set of special antennas which sent their signal to a small pre-amplifier attached to the base of the boom. From there the signal went into the main body amplifier (Catalogue #19860561000). This apparatus was manufactured by the Space and Technology Group of TRW; the firm donated it to the Museum in February 1985.
OGO-V was the fifth in a series of standardized spacecraft capable of performing many related geophysical experiments during the middle 1960s. The sensor formed part of an experiment that measured the electrostatic and electromagnetic plasma properties of the region of space from the upper ionosphere to the solar wind. The flight model of the plasma wave detector was placed in orbit from Cape Kennedy on March 4, 1968. Data from this instrument provided the first evidence for the shock wave observed in the solar wind as it encounters the Earth's magnetic field, the so-called bow shock.
Credit Line
Gift of TRW Space and Technology Group
Inventory Number
A19850560000
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
INSTRUMENTS-Scientific
Materials
Non-Magnetic White Metal
Copper Alloys
Ferrous Alloy
Phenolic Resin
Epoxy
Paint
Mylar
Metallic Tape
Dimensions
3-D: 53.3 × 43.2 × 134.6cm (1 ft. 9 in. × 1 ft. 5 in. × 4 ft. 5 in.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Exhibition
Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A19850560000
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9844cf8c9-1e24-464d-865c-9655088243fb
Full view of a long brown stick with three interconnected circles at the top. Two sticks extend horizontally out of the main stick with golden rings at their ends. Silver machinery is at the bottom of the stick.
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Full view of a long brown stick with three interconnected circles at the top. Two sticks extend horizontally out of the main stick with golden rings at their ends. Silver machinery is at the bottom of the stick.
Full view of a long brown stick with three interconnected circles at the top. Two sticks extend horizontally out of the main stick with golden rings at their ends. Silver machinery is at the bottom of the stick.
Close up view of the top of the long brown stick. The three interconnected circles are silver. There is also a silver segment near the top of the stick.
Close up view of a rectangular black structure with two silver plugs on it. Clear structures attach it to the main brown stick.
Close up view of one of the horizontal sticks. There are golden wires at the end of the stick shaped into curled patterns.