Launched from space shuttle Challenger in October 1984, the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite was designed to investigate how energy from the Sun is absorbed and re-radiated by the planet, also known as the energy budget. The mission lasted 21 years, collecting key data on weather and climate, atmospheric ozone depletion, and the effects of fossil fuel burning.
The Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) was designed to be a 2-year mission to gather required radiation budget data, aerosol data, and ozone data to assess climate change and ozone depletion. The two experiments conducted were the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) and the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II).
The ERBS spacecraft structure was composed of three basic modules: the keel module, the base module, and the instrument module. The keel module was a torque-box structure providing structural support for the propulsion system, the solar array panels, and the antennas. The base module was a torque-box structure that provided a direct interface to the Shuttle.
The ERBE-non-scanning instrument and electronics was attached to the base module. The instrument module was mounted directly to the base module and housed the ERBE-scanner and the SAGE II instrument.
Other ERBS subsystems included the Thermal Control Subsystem (TCS) for regulating heat dissipation; the Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS) which consisted of two 50-amp-hour, 22-cell nickel cadmium batteries; the Power Unit (PCU) for regulating electrical power; the Command and Data Handling Subsystem (C&DH) for collection of instrument and spacecraft data for real-time transmission; the Communications Subsystem (CS), which included NASA TDRSS transponders and antennas; the Attitude Control and Determination Subsystem (AC&DS), a three-axis, momentum system for attitude pointing, maneuvers, and thruster control; and the Orbit Adjust Propulsion System (OAPS), a non-propellent hydrazine propulsion system used for raising the ERBS to its operating orbit after launch from the Shuttle.
The ERBS was held primarily in the Earth-pointing mode for most of the mission.
Alternate Names
Earth Radiation Budget Satellite
Facts in Brief
Launch Date: 1984-10-05
Launch Vehicle: Shuttle
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Mass: 2449.0 kg
Nominal Power: 470.0 W