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Launch Preparation
| Title |
Launch Preparation |
| Full Description |
Inside the nose cone of this Delta rocket is Goddard's geophysics research satellite, a 906-lb. (411-kg) satellite that looked more like a dimpled cosmic golf ball. The spacecraft, which NASA launched from the Western Test Range in California in 1976, provided a stable point in the sky to reflect pulses of laser light. By timing the return of the laser beam to an accuracy of about one ten-billionth of a second, scientists expected to measure the relative location of participating ground stations within one inch or a few centimeters. These measurements allowed scientists to track and analyze tectonic plate movement and continental drift. The spacecraft, called the LAser GEOdynamics Satellite (LAGEOS), was the precursor to the current-day Global Positioning System (GPS) system operated by the Defense Department. |
| Date |
01/01/1976 |
| NASA Center |
Goddard Space Flight Center |
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A Delta Rocket Launches
| Title |
A Delta Rocket Launches |
| Explanation |
A Delta rocket [ http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/DELTA/delta.htm ] is seen being launched in 1988. In use since 1960, Delta rockets [ http://www.dtic.dla.mil/airforcelink/pa/factsheets/Delta_II_Medium_Launch_Vehicl.html ] have been launched successfully over 200 times. Scientific satellites placed into orbit by a Delta rocket include IUE [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950929.html ], COBE [ http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/astro/cobe/cobe_home.html ], LAGEOS-I [ http://cddis.gsfc.nasa.gov/920_1/LAGEOS1.html ], ROSAT [ http://www.rosat.mpe-garching.mpg.de/ ], EUVE [ http://www.cea.berkeley.edu/HomePage.html ], GEOTAIL [ http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/ISTP/geotail.html ], and WIND [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/database/www-nmc?94-071A ]. A Delta rocket is scheduled to launch the X-ray Timing Explorer [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/0/docs/xte/XTE.html ] Satellite (XTE) in the very near future. Commercial launches include INMARSAT [ http://www.worldserver.pipex.com/inmarsat/ ]. Many recent Delta launches have placed Navstar [ http://www.unavco.ucar.edu/ ] Global Positioning System [ http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/gps/gps.htm ] satellites into orbit. Delta rockets are manufactured for the USAF [ http://www.rl.af.mil:8001/AF/af-map.html ] and NASA by McDonnell Douglas [ http://pat.mdc.com/ ] Space Systems Co. |
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