Gravity Gradient Technology Satellite Explained

Gravity Gradient Test Satellite (GGTS)
Mission Type:Gravity-gradient stabilization
Operator:United States Air Force
Cospar Id:1966-053A
Satcat:2207[1]
Launch Mass:470NaN0
Launch Date: 14:00:01 UTC
Launch Rocket:Titan IIIC
Launch Site:Cape Canaveral LC41
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Geosynchronous
Orbit Periapsis:336630NaN0
Orbit Apoapsis:338580NaN0
Orbit Inclination:4.2°
Orbit Period:1,334.00 minutes[2]
Apsis:gee

The Gravity Gradient Test Satellite was launched by the US Air Force from Cape Canaveral LC41 aboard a Titan IIIC rocket on June 16, 1966, at 14:00:01 UTC.[3] The satellite was launched along with seven IDCSP satellites, with which it shared a bus. In contrast to the solar-powered IDCSP satellites, GGTS was battery powered.

GGTS utilized the 26.4lb Magnetically Anchored Gravity Systems (MACS), which consisted of two identical subsystem packages, each containing an extensible rod unit and a magnetically anchored spherical viscous damper.[4] The rod units had an extended length of 15.8m (51.8feet), and their 5kg (11lb) damper tip weights gave the satellite a symmetric dumbbell configuration. The dampers were produced by General Electric and consisted of two concentric spheres separated by a viscous damping fluid. The internal sphere contained a hollow cylindrical magnet which served to "anchor' the inner sphere to the Earth's magnetic field, stabilizing the satellite over time.

It had been hoped that within 60 days of launch, the satellite would reach a stabilization of ±8° on the x- and y-axis. The results were compromised, as one of the dampers was magnetically contaminated.

A follow-up GGTS mission was lost due to a launch vehicle failure on August 28, 1966.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GGTS 1. NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. November 21, 2019.
  2. Web site: GGTS. https://web.archive.org/web/20161228022830/http://astronautix.com/g/ggts.html. dead. December 28, 2016. Astronautix. November 22, 2019.
  3. Web site: Launch Log. McDowell. Jonathan. Jonathon's Space Report. December 30, 2018.
  4. Weygandt . P. . Moyer . R. . August 1966 . Attitude Control for the Gravity Gradient Test Satellite . Guidance and Control Conference . 10.2514/6.1966-1821 . American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
  5. Web site: GGTS 1,2. Gunter's Space Report. 22 Nov 2019.