Explorer 14


Explorer 14 was a spin-stabilized, solar-cell-powered spacecraft instrumented to measure cosmic-ray particles, trapped particles, solar wind protons, and magnetospheric and interplanetary magnetic fields. A 16-channel PFM/PM time-division multiplexed telemeter was used. The time required to sample the 16 channels was 0.323 s. Half of the channels were used to convey eight-level digital information, and the others were used for analog information. During ground processing of the telemetered data, the analog information was digitized with an accuracy of 1/100 of full scale. One analog channel was subcommutated in a 16-frame-long pattern and was used to telemeter spacecraft temperatures, power system voltages, currents, etc. A digital solar aspect sensor measured the spin period and phase, digitized to 0.041 s, and the angle between the spin axis and sun direction to about 3-degree intervals.

Experiments

There were eight experiments done on the Explorer 14 during its mission.
  1. Proton Analyzer
  2. Fluxgate Magnetometers
  3. Trapped Particle Radiation
  4. Cosmic Rays
  5. Proton-Electron Scintillation Detector
  6. Solar Aspect Sensor
  7. Electrolytic Timer Experiment
  8. Solar Cell Damage Experiment