La fragmentation de Pageos 1

The balloon-satellite Pageos 1 was launched in June 1966 into a quasi-polar orbit (inclination of 87 degrees) with an average height of 4200 km. Fragments ejected from the balloon were observed on two occasions - one in July 1975 and the other in January 1976. It is shown that explosions and even meteorite impact can be ruled out as causes of these disintegrations. The probable cause is seen in an increase in spin rate above a critical value.