Episode 778
SOLRAD 1
Sat, 2019-Jun-22 01:49 UTC
Length - 2:29
Direct Link
Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of the featured Wikipedia article every day.
The featured article for Saturday, 22 June 2019 is SOLRAD 1.
SOLRAD (SOLar RADiation) 1 was the public designation for SOLRAD/GRAB 1, a combination science and surveillance satellite launched into orbit on June 22, 1960. It was the first satellite to successfully observe solar X-rays, the first to conduct surveillance from orbit, and the first to be launched with another instrumented satellite (the unrelated navigation satellite, Transit 2A).
Developed by the United States Navy's Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the satellite was in many ways a direct successor to NRL's Project Vanguard, the first American satellite program. The satellite's scientific mission was a success, sending useful data through November 1960 that determined normal solar X-ray output and confirmed the connection between increased solar X-ray activity and radio fade-outs.
The SOLRAD scientific package aboard the satellite provided cover for the Galactic Radiation and Background (GRAB) electronic surveillance package, whose mission was to map the Soviet Union's air defense radar network. The GRAB mission was also successful, operating through September 22, 1960, and revealing that the Soviet air defense radar network was more extensive than had been expected.
SOLRAD/GRAB 1 was switched off in April 1961, making it the first satellite to be remotely deactivated.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:49 UTC on Saturday, 22 June 2019.
For the full current version of the article, see SOLRAD 1 on Wikipedia.
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This has been Kimberly. Thank you for listening to featured Wiki of the Day.
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