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Measured Velocities of Interplanetary Dust Particles

Abstract

AN interplanetary dust particle experiment was flown on the OGO-I satellite launched in September 1964. The primary purpose of the experiment was to measure the speeds and directions of arrival of dust particles within 120,000 km of the Earth's surface, and thus determine the orbits of these particles. If sufficient orbits had been measured, the nature of the apparent dust cloud around the Earth1 could have been determined. Troubles were encountered with both the spacecraft and the experiment, however, and only three probable dust particle impacts were recorded. This communication briefly describes the instrument and the limited amount of results obtained.

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References

  1. Whipple, F. L., Nature, 189, 127 (1961).

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  2. Alexander, W. M., McCracken, C. W., Secretan, L., and Berg, O. E., in Space Research III, edit. by Priester, W., 891 (Amsterdam, North-Holland Publishing Co., 1963).

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NILSSON, C., ALEXANDER, W., McCRACKEN, C. et al. Measured Velocities of Interplanetary Dust Particles. Nature 208, 673–674 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/208673a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/208673a0

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