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Beacon-C

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Mission Photos:

Beacon-C Satellite

Mission Objectives:

Beacon-C is also called Beacon Explorer C or BE-C. The main purpose of this satellite is to record observations of electron content between the earth and the satellite worldwide. Other activities include using a three-axis magnetometer and sun sensors to determine satellite spin rate and attitude data. Information could only be downloaded when the satellite was in range of a ground telemetry station, because the satellite was not equipped with a tape recorder. Initially, the Beacon-C was spin stabilized; however, after the solar paddles were erected, the satellite was despun. A strong bar magnet and damping rods were used to align the satellite axis of symmetry with the local magnetic field. Transmitters operated at 162 and 324 MHz but were turned off on July 20, 1973 because these frequencies interfered with more important spacecraft.

SLR data from Beacon-C is used to monitor the secular and long period tidal variations in the Earth's gravity field. SLR provides a critical global constraint on the geophysical modeling to improve our understanding of the rheology of Earth, such as the mantle viscosity and anelasticity, and the postglacial rebound since the last ice age. The ability to measure the long-term changes in the Earth's gravity field from analysis of SLR data is based on the fact that mass variations within the Earth system produce detectable orbital perturbations, which depend on the orbital inclination and altitude of satellites. As a consequence, the requirement for both the long-term temporal and spatial distribution of the SLR tracking data (i.e., from the satellites at various inclinations and altitudes) is critical for separating the variation at different degrees and orders. Most of the current geodetic satellites are orbiting at inclinations ranging from 50 to 110 degrees. BE-C is the only useful target in a low inclination (41 degrees) with SLR tracking capability, and it can be used to extend the inclination coverage to improve the separation of the secular variations in the zonal harmonics. Use of the SLR data sets from eight geodetic satellites, including Starlette, Stella, Ajisai, LAGEOS-1 and -2, Etalon-1 and -2, and BE-C covering the period over 20 years through the end of 1995 has yielded the most accurate zonal rates with the highest degree (< 7) [Cheng, Shum and Tapley, 1997]. Except for BE-C, extension of the 3-years SLR data by the end of 1998 from those satellites enables separation of the secular zonal variations up to degree 10. However, the solutions for the higher degrees of the zonal rates are limited by the limited time span of the BE-C data [Cheng and Tapley, 1999]. All of these satellites are currently tracked by the SLR network. The long-term SLR data sets from multiple satellites will be an invaluable geophysical time series and will play an important role for geodynamics study in conjunction with the GRACE mission.

Mission Instrumentation:

Beacon-C has the following instrumentation onboard:

  • Radio beacons
  • Doppler navigation system
  • Electrostatic probe
  • Passive laser tracking reflectors
Mission Parameters:
Sponsor: NASA
Expected Life: Active portion turned off July 20,1973
Primary Application: Ionospheric research and geodesy
COSPAR ID: 6503201
SIC Code: 0317
Satellite Catalog (NORAD) Number: 1328
Launch Date: April 29, 1965
RRA Diameter:  
RRA Shape:  
Reflectors: 160 corner cubes
Orbit: Geocentric
Inclination: 41.2 degrees
Eccentricity:
Perigee: 927 km
Period:  
Weight: 32 kg

Additional Information:

NASA Press Releases

NASA Technical Memoranda and Reports

(Some) Historical Earth gravity models that have included SLR data from the BE-C Satellite:

  • EGM96 (1998); TEG-3 (1997); GRIM4-S4,-C4 (1997); JGM-3 (1996); JGM-1,2 (1994); GRIM-4C1,-C2p (1993); GEM-T3 (1994); GEM-T2 (1990); TEG-1 (1989); GEM-T1 (1988); GEM-L2 (1982); Gaposchkin (1980); GRIM-3(1983); GEM-9,-10 (1979); GRIM-2 (1976), SAO SE2 [Gaposchkin & Lambeck (1971)].

    [For information about these historical Earth gravity models, please see the website of the IAG Service, the International Centre for Global Earth Models (ICGEM)]

(Some) Early papers describing analysis of BE-C SLR data:

  • Shutz B.E., Condon S.P. and Tapley B.D. (1975). “Sequential filtering applied to the determination of tracking stations”, J. Geophys. Res., 80(5), 823–831, doi: 10.1029/JB080i005p00823
  • Smith D. et al. (1973). “Earth Tidal Amplitude and Phase”, Nature, 244, 498–499, doi: 10.1038/244498a0
  • Smith D.E. et al. (1972). “Polar motion from laser tracking of artificial satellites”, Science, 178(4059), 405–406, doi: 10.1126/science.178.4059.405
  • Smith D.E. et al. (1972). “Geodetic studies by laser ranging to satellites”, in The Use of Artificial Satellites for Geodesy, vol. 15, S.W. Henriksen, A. Mancini, B.H. Chovitz (eds), Geophysical Monograph Series, American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., doi: 10.1029/GM015p0187

Papers that include BE-C SLR data in studies of time-variable gravity:

  • Cheng M.K., Ries J.C. (2023). “C20 and C30 variations from SLR for GRACE/GRACE-FO science applications”, J. Geophys. Res.-Solid Earth, 128(2), doi: 10.1029/2022JB025459
  • Cheng M.K., Tapley B.D., Ries J.C. (2013). “Deceleration in the Earth’s oblateness”, J. Geophys. Res.-Solid Earth, 118, 740–747, doi: 10.1002/jgrb.50058
  • Lemoine F.G., Klosko S.M., Cox C.M., Johnson T.J. (2006). “Time-variable gravity from SLR and DORIS tracking”, Proceedings of the 15th International Workshop on Laser Ranging, Canberra, Australia, October 15–20, 2006
  • Cheng, M.K., Tapley B.D. (2004). “Variations in the Earth’s oblateness during the past 28 years”, J. Geophys. Res., 109(B09402), doi: 10.1029/2004JB003028
  • Cox C.M, Chao B.F. (2002). “Detection of a Large-scale Mass Redistribution in the Terrestrial System Since 1998”, Science, 297(5582), 831–833, doi: 10.1126/science.1072188
  • Cox C.M., Klosko S.M., Chao B.F. (2001). “Changes in Ice-Mass Balances Inferred From Time Variations of the Geopotential Observed Through SLR and DORIS Tracking”. In: Sideris, M.G. (eds) Gravity, Geoid and Geodynamics 2000. IAG Symposia, vol. 123. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-04827-6_59
  • Cheng M.K., Shum C.K., Tapley B.D. (1997). “Determination of long-term changes in the Earth’s gravity field from satellite laser ranging observations”, J. Geophys. Res.-Solid Earth, 102(B10), 22377–22390, doi: 10.1029/97JB01740

Other Publications:

  • Lipinkski, R.J., Meister D.C., Tucker S. et al. (1995).”Laser beaming demonstrations at the Starfire Optical Range”, Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 2376, Laser Power Beaming II Conference, San Jose, California, doi: 10.1117/12.208207
  • Johnson T., Plotkin H., Spadin P. (1967). “2.5a – A laser satellite ranging system – Part I: Equipment description”, IEEE journal of Quantum Electronics, 3(11), doi: 10.1109/JQE.1967.1074409
  • Moss S., Wells W. (1967). 2.5b – A laser satellite ranging system – Part II: An analysis of the GSFC laser ranging data”, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 3(11), doi: 10.1109/JQE.1967.1074389