Future scientific spacecraft

APR 01, 1964

The authors are members of the professional staff of TRW Space Technology Laboratories in Redondo Beach, California. Mr. Branigan is editor of his firm’s quarterly Space Log publication. Dr. LeGalley served as editor of Space Science and co‐editor of the recently released books, Space Exploration and Space Physics.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3051530

Thomas L. Branigan

Donald P. LeGalley

Satellites and space probes have proven to be extremely useful tools for the scientific exploration of space. Spacecraft carrying scientific instrumentation have returned large volumes of information on the earth’s environment during the first six years of the Space Age, initiated October 4, 1957, with the successful launch of Sputnik 1. Although currently overshadowed by the Apollo manned lunar landing program, both in budget and publicity, a broad variety of future scientific spacecraft is planned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and an increasing number of foreign governments are organizing space‐research programs. This article will review the various scientific satellites and space probes to be launched in the next few years and will discuss their scientific objectives.

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More about the authors

Thomas L. Branigan, TRW Space Technology Laboratories, Redondo Beach, California.

Donald P. LeGalley, TRW Space Technology Laboratories, Redondo Beach, California.