27651 - SORCE

SORCE (SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment) is an American (NASA) Sun-Earth Connection satellite that was launched at 20:13 UT on 2003 January 25 by a Pegasus XL rocket released from a L-1011 cargo aircraft flying out of Cape Canaveral. It is to measure solar irradiance in a number of wavelength bands through three spectrometers and a photometer. The initial orbital parameters were period 93.4 min, apogee 652.5 km, perigee 612.8 km, and inclination 40.0 degrees.

TIM (Total Irradiation Monitor) is a 7.9-kg, 14-W instrument that covers all visual and infrared wavelengths at an irradiance accuracy of one part in 10,000. It uses differential, heat sensitive resisters as detectors.

SIM (Spectral Irradiance Monitor) is a 22-kg, 25-W rotating Fery prism spectrometer with a bolometer output that covers the 200-2,000 nm band at a resolution of a few nanometers, and at an irradiance accuracy of three parts in 10,000.

SOLSTICE (SOLar STellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment) A and B are 36- kg, 33-W, UV grating spectrometers with photomultiplier detectors that cover the 115-320 nm band at a resolution of 0.1 nm, and at an irradiance accuracy of about 4%. It uses an ensemble of bright stars (selected for their stable luminosities) as calibrators for the instrument variability.

XPS (Xuv Photometer System) is a 3.6-kg, 9-W photometer which invokes filters to monitor the x-ray and UV band at 1-34 nm, at a resolution of about seven nm, and at an irradiance accuracy of about 15%.

Alternate Names

SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2003-01-25
Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States