The Soviet Astron orbital station was designed primarily for UV and X-ray astrophysical observations. It was injected into orbit on 23 March 1983. The satellite was put into a highly elliptical orbit, with apogee ∼200,000 km and perigee ∼2,000 km. The station ceased function in June 1989, well past its expected one year mission lifetime.
Mission Characteristics
Lifetime
3 Apr 1983–Jun 1989
Special Features
Highly elliptical orbit placed instruments well outside the Earth’s radiation belts and shadow for 90% of each 4 day orbit
Lifetime
3 Apr 1983–Jun 1989
Special Features
Highly elliptical orbit placed instruments well outside the Earth’s radiation belts and shadow for 90% of each 4 day orbit
Payload
Instrument
Characteristic
Details
Ultraviolet Telescope (UFT; also known as Spika)
Wavelength
∼110–350 nm
Focal Length
8 m
Field of View
0.5°
UFT/Spika was the primary instrument on the mission. It used a ∼80 cm primary mirror with a ∼26 cm secondary using a Ritchey-Chrétien telescope design. The mirrors were coast with aluminum and a MgF2 protective layer. The pointing accuracy was about 2 arcseconds, but could be stablized to ∼0.3 arcsecond accuracy due to the steerable secondary mirror.
X-ray spectrometer (SKR-02M; UFS)
Energy Range
2–25 keV
Effective Area
0.17 m2
Field of View
3° × 3°
Proportional counter with data telemetered in 10 energy channels.
Ultraviolet Telescope (UFT; also known as Spika)
Wavelength
∼110–350 nm
Focal Length
8 m
Field of View
0.5°
UFT/Spika was the primary instrument on the mission. It used a ∼80 cm primary mirror with a ∼26 cm secondary using a Ritchey-Chrétien telescope design. The mirrors were coast with aluminum and a MgF2 protective layer. The pointing accuracy was about 2 arcseconds, but could be stablized to ∼0.3 arcsecond accuracy due to the steerable secondary mirror.
X-ray spectrometer (SKR-02M; UFS)
Energy Range
2–25 keV
Effective Area
0.17 m2
Field of View
3° × 3°
Proportional counter with data telemetered in 10 energy channels.
Science Highlights
Provided data on the prolonged low state of Her X-1 in 1983, and the 1984 turn on of the source
Observed sources in Orion, Taurus, and Leo
Investigated the accretion of material from red giants onto neutron stars
