NOAA-B

NOAA-B
Mission type Weather
Operator NOAA/NASA
COSPAR ID 1980-043A
SATCAT № 11819
Mission duration Launch failure
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type TIROS-N
Launch mass 1,405 kilograms (3,097 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date May 29, 1980 (1980-05-29)
Rocket Atlas E/F Star-37S-ISS
Launch site Vandenberg SLC-3W
End of mission
Decay date May 3, 1981 (1981-05-04)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth (Sun-synchronous planned)
Perigee 267 kilometers (166 mi)
Apogee 1,377 kilometers (856 mi)
Inclination 92.2 degrees
Period 101.34 minutes
Epoch June 28, 1980[1]

NOAA-B[2] was a spacecraft in the TIROS-N series launched by NASA on May 29, 1980. Intended for a sun-synchronous orbit, the spacecraft entered a lower, elliptical orbit due to a launch vehicle malfunction resulting in a failed mission. Had the launch been successful it would have been designated NOAA-7.[3]

Science Objectives

Launch Failure

Following launch a fuel leak between the turbopump and gearbox caused the main engine to lose 20–25% of its thrust.[4][5] This caused the guidance system of the Atlas launch vehicle to increase the length of the first stage burn to compensate.[4]

Due to requirements specific to TIROS missions, there was no interface between the satellite and the launch vehicle guidance systems.[4] This resulted in the satellite attempting to separate from the launch vehicle at approximately 370 seconds after launch. The separation failed due to recontact between the Atlas - which was still under thrust - and the satellite, which only separated when the solid-fuel rocket motor intended to place NOAA-B into a circular 830 km (450 nmi) sun-synchronous orbit fired.[4]

Because the satellite had been unable to perform the pitch-down maneuver necessary to reach its intended orbit the spacecraft ended up in a highly elliptical orbit that was unsuitable for the intended mission.[3][6] Following unsuccessful attempts to correct the orbit using the satellite's attitude control thrusters, NASA pronounced the mission a failure.[3][7][8]

Unlike the earlier Nimbus 1, which was also launched into an unplanned elliptical orbit following a launch vehicle malfunction, no attempt appears to have been made to operate the spacecraft instrumentation during its remaining lifetime in orbit.[9]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  2. ↑ NSSCD - NOAA-B - Trajectory Details, 2012
  3. 1 2 3 Spokane Daily Chronicle, May 30, 1980. p. 8
  4. 1 2 3 4 Eleazer, 2012
  5. ↑ Merced Sun-Star, May 30, 1980. p. 27
  6. ↑ The Spokesman-Review, May 30, 1980. p. 14
  7. ↑ Bell, 1980
  8. ↑ Wade, 2012.
  9. ↑ NSSCD - NOAA-B - Spacecraft Description, 2012
Sources
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