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The UK 5 Spacecraft for Experiments in X-Ray Astronomy

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Astronautical Research 1971
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Abstract

UK 5 is the fifth in the series of spacecraft built for the Science Research Council of the United Kingdom, and is part of the joint U.S./U.K. co-operative space programme. The spacecraft carries six experiments to investigate, with their own particular emphasis, the spatial distribution and energy spectra of emissions from X-ray sources in space, and the diffuse X-ray background. Studies will also be made of the polarization of X-ray emissions and of any pulsar periodicities.

Most of the experiments view areas of sky along the spin axis of the spacecraft. To be able to vary the pointing direction, the spin axis can be precessed by an on-board attitude control system.

This paper outlines the design of the spacecraft and the method by which it will be controlled in orbit.

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L. G. Napolitano P. Contensou W. F. Hilton

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© 1973 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht-Holland

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Semple, E.C. (1973). The UK 5 Spacecraft for Experiments in X-Ray Astronomy. In: Napolitano, L.G., Contensou, P., Hilton, W.F. (eds) Astronautical Research 1971. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2559-1_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2559-1_32

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-2561-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-2559-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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