THE STABILIZATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE ORBITING ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY

R. E. Papsco

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	The Orbiting Astronomical Observtory, or OAO, is being developed for the Goddard Space Flight Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Coporation (see Fig. 1). The OAO is a precisely stablized, 3,600 pound satellite capable of containing a variety of experiments. The spacecraft is an octagonally-shaped aluminum structure with a hollow central tubular area which is used to house the experiment containier. The OAO is 118 inches long and 80 inches across the flats. The first OAO will be launched from the Atlantic Missle Range in 1965. An Atlas Agena vehicle will be used to boost the satellite to a 500 mile circular orbit. The first OAO to be launched will contain two scientific experiments. The Smithsonian Astrophusical Observatory experiment, called Project Celescope, is to map the sky in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum and is to include stars and large nebulae of the 8th magnitude and brighter. The second experiment under development by the University of Wisconsin, is intended to determine the stellar energy distribution in the spectral region from 3000 to 8000 A. Scientific experiments in the untraviolet portion of the spectrum are being developed for subsequent spacecraft.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 11, Number 1
Pages:	3 - 14
Cite this article:	Papsco, R. E., "THE STABILIZATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE ORBITING ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 11, No. 1, Spring 1964, pp. 3-14.
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