Photometry of the United Kingdom Spacecraft ARIEL-4,Space Object 5675:Optical Properties of Spacecraft (OPOS) Application Report Number 4.

摘要

Optical observations of the ARIEL-4spacecraft,space object (S.O.) 5675on 6and 15July 1972indicate that the spacecraft is experiencing a somewhat greater unbalance than the preceding spacecraft in the series. This is evidenced by a 2.2degree coning angle in its spin-stabilization,compared with 0.6degree for ARIEL-3 (S.O. 2773). These values are obtained by measuring the amplitudes and times of specular glints produced by sunlight reflecting from solar cells mounted on the main body of spacecraft. (Author)