The Complete Book of Spaceflight: From Apollo 1 to Zero Gravity

ASAT (antisatellite)
A satellite or other device whose purpose is to disable an
enemy satellite. The method used could involve either
the physical destruction of the satellite or interference
with its communications or power systems.
ASCA (Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and
Astrophysics)
Japan’sfourthX-rayastronomymission,launchedbyISAS
(InstituteofSpaceandAstronauticalScience),andthesecond
for which the United States provided part of the scientificpayload.Thisincludedfourgrazing-incidenceX-ray
telescopes developed at the Goddard Space Flight Center,
eachofwhichworkedintheenergyrangeof0.7to10keV.
After eight months of instrument validation, ASCA
became aguest-observer project open to astronomers in
Japan, America, and the ESA (European Space Agency)
memberstates.Amongitstargetsforstudywerethecosmic
X-ray background, active galactic nuclei, galaxy clusters,
and supernovae and their remnants. ASCA was the first
satellite to use CCDs (charge-coupled devices) for X-ray
astronomy. It is also known by its national name, Asuka
(“flyingbird”),andpriortolaunchwascalledAstro-D.
Launch
Date: February 20, 1993
Vehicle: M-3S
Site: Kagoshima
Orbit: 538 × 645 km × 31°
Size: 4.0 × 1.2 m
Mass: 417 kg
ASCE (Advanced Spectroscopic and
Coronographic Explorer)
A proposed solar observation satellite to study the physical
processes in the outer atmosphere of the Sun that lead to
the solar wind and explosive coronal mass ejections. It
would carry three solar experiments—the Large Aperture
Spectroscopic and Polarimetric Coronograph, the Extreme
Ultraviolet Imager, and a deployable mast supporting a
remote external occulter (for blocking the Sun’s bright
disk)—more advanced than their counterparts on SOHO
(Solar and Heliospheric Observatory). ASCE, led by John
L. Kohl of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, is
one of four MIDEX (Medium-class Explorer) missions
selected by NASA in April 2002 for further development,
two of which will be launched in 2007 and 2008.
ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiano)
The Italian Space Agency; a government agency, formed
in 1988, that identifies, coordinates, and manages Italian
space programs and Italy’s involvement with ESA.
Asterix 41
ASLV (Advanced Satellite Launch Vehicle)
An Indian launch vehicle derived from the SLV-3. The allsolid-propellant
ASLV was created by adding two additional
boosters modified from the SLV-3’s first stage and
by making other general improvements to the basic SLV-
3 four-stage stack. In fact, it is a five-stage vehicle, since
the core first stage does not ignite until just before the
booster rockets burn out. The first launch of the ASLV on
March 24, 1987, failed when the bottom stage of the core
vehicle did not ignite after booster burnout. The second
attempt, on July 13, 1988, ended with the Rohinipayload
falling into the Bay of Bengal when the vehicle became
unstable after release of the boosters. Finally, on May 20,
1992, SROSS-3 was inserted into LEO (low Earth orbit)
by the third ASLV. However, instead of entering a circular
orbit near 400 km, the ASLV achieved only a short-lived
orbit of 256 km by 435 km. The fourth ASLV mission in
May 1994 successfully reached its programmed orbit of
434 km by 921 km with the SROSS-C2 payload. The
vehicle is likely to be phased out shortly in favor of the
more powerful PSLV(Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle).
ASLV STATISTICS
Thrust at liftoff: 910,200 N
Mass, fully fueled: 41,000 kg
Payload to LEO: 150 kg
Diameter: 1.0 m
Length: 23.5 m
ASSET (Aerothermodynamic Elastic Structural
Systems Environmental Tests)
The first part of the U.S. Air Force START (Spacecraft
Technology and Advanced Reentry Test) project on lifting
bodies. ASSET test flights took place from 1963 to 1965
and used surplus Thormissiles, returned from the United
Kingdom, for 4,000 m/s flights and Thor-Delta for 6,000
m/s flights. A spacecraft known as an aerothermodynamic
structural test vehicle (ASV) was flown on a suborbital trajectory
to a recovery zone near Ascension Island in the
Atlantic to carry out heat-shield experiments.
Asterix
The first French satellite, also known as A-1, which served
as a test payload for the Diamantrocket. With its launch,
France became the first nation other than the two superpowers
to place its own satellite in orbit.
Launch
Date: November 26, 1965
Vehicle: Diamant
Site: Hammaguira
Orbit: 527 × 1,697 km × 34.3°
Mass: 42 kg