Injun (satellite)

The Injun program was a series of six satellites designed and built by researchers at the University of Iowa. They were intended to observe various radiation and magnetic phenomena in the ionosphere and beyond.

The design specifics of the satellites had little in common, though all were solar-powered and the first five used magnetic stabilization to control spacecraft attitude. (The last in the series was spin-stabilized.) Instruments included particle detectors of varying types, magnetometers, and photometers for observing auroras. The last three satellites were launched as part of the Explorer program.

In spite of various hardware difficulties and the loss of Injun 2 due to an upper stage failure, the program was generally successful. In particular they produced data on the radiation aftereffects of the Starfish Prime high-altitude nuclear test.

Program details

References

*cite web
url = http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/injun-1.htm
title = Injun 1
publisher = Gunter's Space Pages
accessdate = 2008-04-25
*cite web
url = http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/injun-2.htm
title = Injun 2
publisher = Gunter's Space Pages
accessdate = 2008-04-25
*cite web
url = http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/injun-3.htm
title = Injun 3
publisher = Gunter's Space Pages
accessdate = 2008-04-25
*cite web
url = http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/explorer_ie-b.htm
title = Explorer: IE B / Injun 4
publisher = Gunter's Space Pages
accessdate = 2008-04-25
*cite web
url = http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/explorer_ie-c.htm
title = Explorer: IE C / Injun 5
publisher = Gunter's Space Pages
accessdate = 2008-04-25
*cite web
url = http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/explorer_ie-d.htm
title = Explorer: IE D / Injun 6 / Hawkeye / Neutral Point Explorer
publisher = Gunter's Space Pages
accessdate = 2008-04-25