Functions of Prognoz-10: Intercosmos' station explained
Abstract
The mode of operation of the new Prognoz-10 satellite, which is beginning to function in line with the international program Intershok is described. Interplanetary and near-Earth shock waves are recorded. The satellite is flying in an elongated elliptical orbit, 200,000 kilometers distant at its apogee and returning to within 400 kilometers at its perigee. In the four days that it takes the satellite to make one orbit around Earth, three are spent traveling in purely interplanetary space, and one day is spent within the Earth's magnetosphere. The Earth's magnetic field presents a serious obstacle in the path of the solar wind of charged particles. A shock wave occurs when they meet the obstacle of Earth's magnetosphere. This wave stretches out for about 100 kilometers, a distance through which it takes the satellite one second to pass. The onboard equipment studies the composition of particle energy, and measures the Sun's short wave and radio emission.
- Publication:
-
USSR Report Earth Sciences JPRS UES
- Pub Date:
- July 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985RpESc....Q..37K
- Keywords:
-
- Earth Magnetosphere;
- Magnetic Fields;
- Prognoz Satellites;
- Shock Waves;
- Solar Wind;
- Onboard Equipment;
- Particle Energy;
- Radio Emission;
- Satellite Observation;
- Solar Radiation