OV3 [USAF]
Official name OV3-2
Alternative name OV3 2
Cospar ID 1966-097A
Norad ID 2517
Launch date 1966-10-28
Launch site AFWTR
Launch vehicle Scout-B
Country/Organization USA
Type application Experimental
Operator US Air Force (USAF)
RCS size UNKNOWN
Decay date 1971-09-29
Shape Oct Cyl
Mass (kg) 82
Diameter (m) 0.7
Height (m) 0.7
Span (m^2) 0.7
Contractors Aerojet (#1 - 4); AFCRL (#5 - 6)
Equipment see above
Configuration Aerojet GUS (General Utility Satellite)
Power Solar cells, batteries

The OV3 (Orbiting Vehicle 3) series were experimental satellites based on an octagonal bus structure. These were the only in the OV series launched on dedicated launchers.

Payloads:

  • OV3 1: Radiation belt particle and fields experiments (reflights of OV2 1 experiments)
  • OV3 2: Low energy radiation belt particles experiments, mass spectrometer, parallel plate retarding-potential analyser, electrostatic analyser, Langmuir probe, triaxial magnetometer
  • OV3 3: Radiation belt particle and fields experiments, Faraday cup, 2 directional telescopes, 3 spectrometers, magnetometer, VLF receiver (reflights of OV2 1 experiments)
  • OV3 4: 6 Tissue equicalent ion chambers, 2 five-channell spectrometers, 2 charged particle spectrometers, magnetometer
  • OV3 5: 2 mass spectrometers (neutal and ionised atmospheric particles), 3 cold cathode ionisation gauges, 2 boom mounted rf impedance probes
  • OV3 6: 2 mass spectrometers (neutal and ionised atmospheric particles), 3 cold cathode ionisation gauges, 2 boom mounted rf impedance probes

OV3 4 was also called PHASR (Personal Hazards Associated with Space Radiation) and OV3 5 and OV3 6 were called ATCOS (Atmospheric Composition Satellite).

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
OPS 1527 (OV3-1) 1966-034A 1966-04-22 AFWTR Scout-B
OPS 1427 (OV3-4) 1966-052A 1966-06-10 WLPIS Scout-B
OV3-3 1966-070A 1966-08-04 AFWTR Scout-B
OV3-2 1966-097A 1966-10-28 AFWTR Scout-B
OV3-6 1967-120A 1967-12-05 AFWTR Scout-B