A ANATIONAL AERONA' mCS

* AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

1520 H STREET. NORTHWEST WASHINGTON 25. D. C.
TELEPHONES: DUDLEY 2-6325 EXECUTIVE 3-3260

FOR RELEASE: March 23, 1962

Release No. 62-71 Friday, 2:30 PM

SECOND IONOSPHERE PROBE

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will

attempt to launch, no earlier than March 28, 1962, the second
in a series of ionosphere measurement probes using the four-
stage solid fuel Scout rocket.
The P-21A experiment is designed to measure the electron
density profile, ion density and type of ions in the ionosphere,
the region where some radio signals are reflected back to earth.
High radio frequencies are known to penetrate the ionosphere.
Such basic research could lead to improved communications on
earth and between vehicles in space.
The 90-pound experiment will be launched from NASA's
Wallops Island around midnight when characteristics of the
ionosphere di.ffer drastically from its daytime state. An alti-
tude of about 4,000 miles is expected for the planned 85-minute
flight. Since there will be telemetry throughout the flight,
it will not be necessary to recover the payload.
The P-21 experiment determined the concentration of elec-
trons as a function of altitude during the daytime. It was
successfully launched by a developmental Scout on October 19,
reaching a peak altitude of 4,261 miles. Electron density was
obtained to about 1,500 miles marking the first time such
specific measurements had been made at this altitude.
NASA scientists at a press conference today outlined ac-
complishments of the P-21 probe which, along with discoveries
from other NASA programs, have contributed to world scientific
concepts of the upper ionosphere.
P-21 Project Scientists have announced the following
findings:
1. P-21 confirmed the existence of the helium region and
measured the lower boundary of the layer. On that particular
day it began about 700 miles above the earth's surface.
 2. Simultaneously, P-21 measured the temperature of
the upper atmosphere and found it to be fairly constant at
2,000 F from about 300 to 1,800 miles where measurement ceased
because of radio frequency interference.

3. Scientists can now theoretically predict that the

lower boundary of the hellium layer varies with temperature be-
cause of new data received from P-21, Goddard's Explorer VIII
Ionospheric measurement satellite, and analysis of a Scout
flight on October 4, 1960 made by Hanson of Lockheed under a
NASA contract.

To test this theory, P-21A will be launched one day next

week around midnight when the temperature of the ionosphere is
much cooler. Theoretically, project scientists expect to find
that the altitude of the lower boundary of the helium layer
should drop down to 500 miles, compared with the P-21 Scout
daytime measurement of about 700 miles. Temperature should
0
drop down to about 1100 F.

To assist scientists in determining where helium ions are

outnumbered by the hydrogen ions of outer space, the P-21A will
carry an additional experiment--an ion trap--similar to that
flown on the Explorer VIII satellite.

S. J. Bauer and J. E. Jackson, NASA scientists responsible

for the P-21 program, explained that previously it was general-
ly accepted by scientists that hydrogen was the most important
atmospheric constituent at altitudes around 700 miles.

However, NASA's Explorer VIII, instrumented by the Plane-

tary Ionospheres Branch at Goddard and launched November 3,
1960, gave experimental evidence on the presence of helium
ions above 900 miles. About the same time, Dr. W. B. Hanson
of Lockheed Missiles and Space Division, working under NASA
contract, presented the same type of evidence based on hie in-
terpretation of an ion-density profile obtained on Scout launch
#2 fired on October 4, 1960.
Previously, Dr. Marcel Nicolet of Belgium in the Spring
of 1961 postulated the same hypothesis in order to explain the
slow decrease of neutral atmospheric density above 450 miles
inferred from the NASA Echo I balloon satellite.

Dr. Bauer and Mr. Jackson said that it now appears that
between 150 to 700 miles ionized oxygen is the predominant
ionized consultuent. At lower altitudes, molecular oxygen and
nitric oxide ions are also present. About 700 miles there is a
transition from oxygen ions to helium ions and -ior more than

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1,000 miles helium appears to be the predominant constituent.
On the basis of theoretical estimates, they said, a transition
may occur at about 2,000 miles from helium to hydrogen which
is the principal constituent~.of interplanetary space.

P-21A Probe Description

This eight-sided spacecraft is the last of the NASA P-21
series of four rocket flights to investigate ionospheric
cnaracteristics of importance to radio communication, radio
tracking and guidance, and to add to the basic understanding
of the earth's ionosphere.

In the ionosphere, incoming radiations from the sun collide

with atoms of gases, releasing free electrons and positive ions,
creating reflective layers for radio signals. If it were .not
for the ionosphere, long range radio communication would not
be possible. Ionospheric data is very scarce between 200 miles
and 600 miles, and virtually non-existent above the latter
altitude. Significant results could be obtained if only help
the planned altitude is achieved.
Three probes have already been fired in the series. On
April 27, an Argo D-4 rocket reached an altitude of 450 miles
and gave an excellent profile of electron densities during mid-
day, for a quiet ionosphere. Another D-4 was fired in June
to compare nighttime electron densities with the daytime data
obtained previously, but rocket failure kept if from achieving
its objectives. The P-21 firing on October 19 measured day-
time electron concentration. P-21A will chart the nighttime
profile.
P-21A contains three experiments: A CW (continuous wave)
Propagation Experiment will attempt to determine electron
density and associated parameters of the ionosphere. A Swept-
Frequency Probe will attempt direct measurement of electron
density. A Positive Ion Experiment will attempt to determine
ion concentration. Secondary objectives of the flight are
to test the performance of new ionospheric ground stations at
Blossom Point, Md. and Wallops Island.
In the CW experiment, two radio signals are transmitted
from the rocket to a receiving station on the ground at fre-
quencies of 12.3 Mc (1.5 watts of power) and 73.6 Me (0.7 watts).
The higher frequency is essentially unaffected by the ionosphere
and should provide a reference with which to compare the low
frequency transmission. The lower frequency will be affected
considerably by the physical conditions of the ionosphere,
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with the effects being detected and recorded at an ionosphere
ground station at Blossom Point, Md.

The swept-f>-quercy probe measures the ionospheric e ectron

concentration by direct sampling. It accomplishes this in-
directly by comparing the measured capacitance of a sensor to
its free-space valve. These data can then be related to the di-
electric constand of the region, and thus to the electron con-
centration surrounding the probe. The sensor is a parellel-
plate capacitor having two circular wire mesh discs 30 cm in
diameter with a 1.5 cm separation. A radio-frequency voltage
is applied across the capacitor at varying frequencies. The
impedance of the capacitor is monitored by measuring the flux
in the transformer supplying the voltage.

The ion trap experiment will attempt to measure the density

and identify the mass number of the positive ionic constituents
in the altitude range from 300 to 1,500 miles. The ion trap,
or sensor which will perform the experiment consists of a
current collecting plate mounted behind three grids. Surfaces
of the grids and collector are gold plated. Varying voltages
are applied to these grids which serve to retard electrons
and collect the positive charged ions.

Flight Information

Total payload weight is 147 pounds. This includes the

scientific payload and the environmental test package for the
Scout. The instrumentation package will not be separaged from
the fourth stage, but the nose cone (heat shield) will be re-
leased at third stage ignition. Antennas will be deployed 105
seconds after third stage ignition. Launch angle will be about
85 degrees.

Flight data will be recorded at the Goddard Space Flight

Center's ionosphere ground station at Wallops Island, and
at another station at Blossom Point, Maryland. FPS-16 radar
at Wallops will be used to evaluate vehicle performance during
powered flight, and radar installations at Millstone Hill,
Massachusetts; Morrestown, N. J. (RCA); Bermuda; and the MIT
(Lincoln Laboratories) installation on Virginia's eastern
shore will skin-track the vehicle.

The Ionosphere Sounding Stations at Wallops Island and

Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, will supply ionosphere data before,
during, and after the flight.

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 LAUNCH VEHICLE

Scout is the nation's first solid propellant rocket to

place a payload in orbit. It did so on February 16, 1961,
when it sent aloft Explorer IX, a 12-foot, alurnilum and
plastic sphere to collect data on effects atmospheric drag will
have on space vehicles and the life of satellites.

Scout is designed to place a 150-pound satellite in a

300-mile orbit or to send a 50-pound scientific package nearly
8,500 miles in a probe shot. For re-entry tests, the rocket
can subject a payload to conditions like those encountered by
space vehicles returning to the earth's atmosphere. In a
ballistic trajectory, it can provide almost two hours of
weightlessness for 100-pound experiments.

Scout is 72 feet long and weighs approximately 36,600

pounds. Its four solid-propellant stages consist of Algol
first stage, Castor second, Antares third and Altair fourth.

These four rocket motors, plus the necessary transition

sections and guidance and control equipment, are assembled into
a complete vehicle by the Astronautics Division of Chance Vought
Corporation, aerospace subsidiary of Ling-Temco-Vought, Inc.,
and prime vehicle contractor for Scout.

Data on Scoutts four stages, named for stars in the

constellations, include:

Al ol - Thirty feet long, 40 inches in diameter, develop-

ing 115,00 pounds of thrust. This motor, the largest solid
rocket flown in the United States, is fin stablized and con-
trolled in flight by jet vanes. Developed by Aerojet-General
Division of General Tire and Rubber Company.

Castor - Twenty feet long, 30 inches in diameter and de-

veloping more than 50,000 pounds of thrust. Stabilized and
controlled by hydrogen peroxide jets. A modification of the
Sergeant motor, it has been used in a cluster in NASA's Little
Joe program in support of the Mercury project. Developed by
the Redstone Division of Thiokol Chemical Corporation.

Antares II - Ten feet long, 30 inches in diameter and

more than 13,00 pounds of thrust. Lightweight plastic con-
struction. Stablized and controlled by hydrogen peroxide jets.
Developed by the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory of Hercules
Powder Company.

Altair - Six feet long, 18 inches in diameter and 3,000

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pounds of thrust. This motor, formerly known as the X-248
and developed for the Vanguard third stage, is spin stabilized.
It is the third stage on the Delta launch vehicle and was the
first fully developed rocket to utilize lightweight plastic
construction. Also developed by ABL.

Each stage has a burning time of approximately 40

seconds.

The Scout concept originated in mid-1958 at NASALs Langley

Research Center in Virginia and a project office was established
to develop the vehicle and serve as program manager. The first
full-scale vehicle was launched from. Wallops Station, Virginia,
on July 1, 1960.

Project Participants

NASA Headquarters Program Manager for the developmental

Scout program is R. D. Ginter.

Langley Research Center has sole responsibility for the

direction of the developmental Scout launch vehicle. George
R. Rupp is the Scout Program Director for Langley Research
Center.

Chance Vought Corporation is the prime contractor for

the Scout vehicle.

NASA Headquarters Program Manager for the P-21 is M. J.

Aucremanne,

Goddard Space Flight Center has the primary responsibility

for designing the experiments and the major electronic com-
ponents and payload sensors for the P-21. The GSFC Payload
Manager is John E. Jackson. Dr. Siegfried J. Bauer, J. L.
Donley and Dr. Harry A. Whale are the scientific experimenters.
'lallops test director for I'sh ; rnment is Mr. Robert rT.
Duffy.

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