Citation
Abstract
Project Helios is a cooperative U.S./West German space effort. Two unmanned solar-orbiting spacecraft are planned to be launched: the first in mid-1974, and the second in late 1975. These spacecraft will follow a trajectory that brings them closer to the Sun (under 0.3 AU) than any known program to date. Using specially designed instruments, the Helios spacecraft will enter unexplored regions near the Sun in an attempt to expand mankind’s knowledge of how the Sun influences life on Earth. In addition to the scientific goals, Project Helios presents many challenging technological problems—none the least of which is to design a spacecraft which will endure 16 times the amount of heat from the Sun (at 0.25 AU) than is normally received on Earth. In addition, the spacecraft reaches its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) in only 90 days after launch. These and other facets of this unique mission were described in Volumes II through VI of this series. Volume VII treated the JPL/TDS activities during the Sixth Helios Joint Working Group Meeting held at Oberpfaffenhofen, West Germany, October 20 to 27, 1971. This article covers the DSN Helios activities since that date.
Details
- Volume
- VIII
- Published
- April 15, 1972
- Pages
- 16–19
- File Size
- 453.5 KB