Westford Needles

Class: Communications. Type: Passive. Nation: USA.

In an attempt to lay a radio-reflective ring around the world, small metal dipole needles were allowed to sublimate out of a matrix. The experiment was greatly criticized by astronomers who feared optical and radio pollution. However the needles apparently didn't work as a radio reflector and the feared effects did not come to pass.

Associated Launch Vehicle: Atlas LV-3A / Agena B.

Westford Needles Chronology

1961 October 21 - Westford - Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Vehicle: Atlas LV-3A / Agena B.

1962 April 9 - West Ford Drag - Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Vehicle: Atlas LV-3A / Agena B.

1963 May 9 - Westford - Launch Site: Point Arguello. Launch Vehicle: Atlas LV-3A / Agena B.

Bibliography and Further Reading

McDowell, Jonathan, Launch Log, October 1998. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited since Sputnik. Accessed at: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~jcm/space/log/launch.html.

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