GGSE

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Class: Technology. Type: Gravity gradient. Destination: Medium Earth Orbit. Nation: USA. Agency: U.S. Army, U.S. Navy.

Gravity gradient stabilization tests. This series developed designs and deployment techniques later applied to the NOSS / Whitecloud naval reconnaissance satellites.

Typical orbit: 898 km x 916 km at 70 degrees inclination.

GGSE Chronology

1964 January 11 - GGSE 1 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1E. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Perigee: 899 km (558 mi). Apogee: 916 km (569 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 103.20 min.
Gravity gradient stabilization tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1965 March 9 - GGSE 2 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 4.00 kg (8.80 lb). Perigee: 898 km (557 mi). Apogee: 925 km (574 mi). Inclination: 70.10 deg. Period: 103.20 min.
Gravity gradient stabilization tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1965 March 9 - GGSE 3 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 4.00 kg (8.80 lb). Perigee: 886 km (550 mi). Apogee: 915 km (568 mi). Inclination: 70.10 deg. Period: 103.00 min.
Gravity gradient stabilization tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1967 May 31 - GGSE 5 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 4.00 kg (8.80 lb). Perigee: 906 km (562 mi). Apogee: 913 km (567 mi). Inclination: 70.00 deg. Period: 103.20 min.
Gravity gradient stabilization tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1967 May 31 - GGSE 4 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Mass: 4.00 kg (8.80 lb). Perigee: 903 km (561 mi). Apogee: 910 km (560 mi). Inclination: 70.00 deg. Period: 103.10 min.
Gravity gradient stabilization tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

Bibliography:

McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Web Address when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.
McDowell, Jonathan, Launch Log, October 1998. Web Address when accessed: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~jcm/space/log/launch.html.

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