Transit Research and Attitude Control
Encyclopedia
The Transit Research and Attitude Control (TRAAC) satellite
was launched by the U.S. Navy from Cape Kennedy along with Transit 4B on November 15, 1961. The 109 kg
satellite was used to test the feasibility of using gravity-gradient stabilization
in Transit
navigational satellites. It provided information on the effects of radiation
from nuclear explosion
s in space, as it was one of several satellites whose detectors provided data for the Starfish Prime
test; ultimately its solar cells were damaged by the radiation and it ceased operation. It is expected to orbit for 800 years at an altitude of about 950 km (600 mi).
The first poem to be launched into orbit about the Earth was inscribed on the instrument panel of TRAAC. Entitled Space Prober and written by Prof. Thomas G. Bergin of Yale University
, it reads in part:
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
was launched by the U.S. Navy from Cape Kennedy along with Transit 4B on November 15, 1961. The 109 kg
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
satellite was used to test the feasibility of using gravity-gradient stabilization
Gravity-gradient stabilization
Gravity-gradient stabilization is a method of stabilizing artificial satellites or space tethers in a fixed orientation using only the orbited body's mass distribution and the Earth's gravitational field. The main advantage over using active stabilization with propellants, gyroscopes or reaction...
in Transit
Transit (satellite)
The TRANSIT system, also known as NAVSAT , was the first satellite navigation system to be used operationally. The system was primarily used by the U.S...
navigational satellites. It provided information on the effects of radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
from nuclear explosion
Nuclear explosion
A nuclear explosion occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy from an intentionally high-speed nuclear reaction. The driving reaction may be nuclear fission, nuclear fusion or a multistage cascading combination of the two, though to date all fusion based weapons have used a fission device...
s in space, as it was one of several satellites whose detectors provided data for the Starfish Prime
Starfish Prime
Starfish Prime was a high-altitude nuclear test conducted by the United States of America on July 9, 1962, a joint effort of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Defense Atomic Support Agency ....
test; ultimately its solar cells were damaged by the radiation and it ceased operation. It is expected to orbit for 800 years at an altitude of about 950 km (600 mi).
The first poem to be launched into orbit about the Earth was inscribed on the instrument panel of TRAAC. Entitled Space Prober and written by Prof. Thomas G. Bergin of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, it reads in part:
- And now 'tis man who dares assault the sky...
- And as we come to claim our promised place, aim only to repay the good you gave,
- And warm with human love the chill of space.