Proton Satellite Series
THE PROTON PROGRAM
By Dr. Charles S. Sheldon II[1917-1981], was Chief of the Science Policy Research Division of the Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service
1971-1975
It was appropriate that after the eccentric orbit, relatively small Elektron flights, that the largest of Soviet scientific flights should be called Protons. An earlier chapter of this report has already described the Proton or D class launch vehicle, about, three times the capacity of the standard A class launch vehicles. As noted, to this day, no complete photograph of this launch vehicle has been made available through 1975.
1. Proton 1
On July 16, 1965 , the U.S.S.R. announced the launch of Proton 1, said to weigh 12.2 metric tons, into an orbit 627 by 190 kilometers at an inclination of 63.5 degrees, and with a period of 92.5 minutes. The rocket was described as having a power output in excess of 60 million horsepower. The payload was described as a massive cosmic ray measuring experiment, to gather evidence on cosmic ray primaries up to an energy level of 100 trillion electron volts (10 14 eV). Later, when a replica of the payload was put on display, it was found to consist of a short cylinder about 4 meters in diameter, with four large solar cell panels or paddles which folded out from it, and a number of antennas. Cradled within the cylinder was the experiment package as if within an annulus. Separate cutaways of the experiment showed typical blocks of metal, paraffin, and plastic as often used for cosmic ray experiments. The ship was able to transmit many channels of telemetry. The low orbit led to its decay after 87 days.
2. Proton 2
This similar payload was launched on November 2, 1965 , and lasted 92 days. It was in an orbit of 637 by 191 kilometers, at an inclination of 63.5 degrees, and with a period of 92.6 minutes. It also was announced as weighing 12.2 metric tons. Western optical studies of the accompanying debris in Earth orbit left in doubt whether the whole core vehicle was in orbit with the payload (the D version) or an upper stage (the D-l version).
3. Proton 3
After eight more months, Proton 3 was announced as launched on July 6, 1966 . It was in an orbit of 630 by 190 kilometers, at 63.5 degrees inclination, and with a period of 92.5 minutes. It also had an announced weight of 12.2 metric tons. Decay came after 72 days. This
flight continued the study of cosmic rays, including solar cosmic rays, and their energy spectrum and chemical composition in the range up to 100 trillion electron volts. It measured the absolute intensity and energy spectrum of those of galactic origin, and it sought primary cosmic rays for any particles which might have a fractional electrical charge. Specific reference was made to searching for the postulated fundamental particle, the quark. In any case, the orbital station afforded study opportunities impossible to pursue on the surface of the Earth.
Considering that three such similar payloads were flown, and probably without too efficient a use of the new launch vehicle, it seemed perhaps the primary purpose of the flights was to test the new vehicle with science getting a free ride, much like the three early flights of Saturn I which carried repetitive Pegasus meteoroid experiments.
4. Proton 4
The final Proton flight came on November 14, 1968 , as an improvement over the predecessors. It was put into an orbit of 495 by 255 kilometers at an inclination of 51.5 degrees, the inclination used here after for D-vehicle launches, with a period of 91.75 minutes. It decayed after 250 days. This time the payload weight was listed as 17 metric tons.
Later, a replica was put on display, and it was substantially like its predecessors, but at one end there was a blunt, conical nosecone, even though the payload was non-recoverable. It had a number of rod antennas, and the same kind of solar panels. This time there was agreement among Western optical observers that the accompanying spent rocket casing in orbit was on the order of 12 meters long, 4 meters in diameter, the same as seen with the Luna 15 and Zond 4 flights (the D-l version).
The Soviet description of the experiments this time raised its capacity to measuring cosmic ray energies up to a level of one quadrillion electron volts, (lO\ 15 eV) and to do chemical analysis studies in the range between 10 and 100 trillion electron volts. It was also to study the possible collisions of cosmic ray particles with the nuclei of hydrogen, carbon, and iron in the range of 1 to 10 trillion electron volts, and to study the dynamics of collisions of cosmic ray particles in the 10 to 100 trillion electron volt range with the nuclei of atoms. They continued their search for primary particles with fractional electric charges, and to measure the intensity and energy spectrum of high energy electrons. They still hoped to find quarks. A number of the instruments had been refined over what were used in the earlier flights.
The main instrument used on the Proton station was an ionization calorimeter. It consisted of a considerable number of steel bars between which were special plastic scintillators. When a cosmic ray primary would strike an iron nucleus, secondary particles spread out to collide with still other nuclei through many generations. A lump of carbon serving as one half and a lump of polyethylene as the other half of the instrument were used as measuring devices where the interactions of particles could be studied.
References
1. SOVIET SPACE PROGRAMS, 1971-75, OVERVIEW, FACILITIES AND HARDWARE MANNED AND UNMANNED FLIGHT PROGRAMS, BIOASTRONAUTICS CIVIL AND MILITARY APPLICATIONS PROJECTIONS OF FUTURE PLANS, STAFF REPORT , THE COMMITTEE ON AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE .SCIENCES, UNITED STATES SENATE, BY THE SCIENCE POLICY RESEARCH DIVISION CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, VOLUME – I, AUGUST 30, 1976, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1976.
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