Lincoln Calibration Sphere 1
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| Names | LCS-1 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | radar calibration |
| Operator | MIT Lincoln Laboratory |
| COSPAR ID | 1965-034C |
| Mission duration | 50 yrs, 10 months, 28 days (as of 28 January 2016) |
| Apogee | 2700 km |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | LCS-1 |
| Spacecraft type | Aluminium sphere |
| Manufacturer | Rohr Corp. |
| Dry mass | 34 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 15:00:03, May 6, 1965 |
| Rocket | Titan IIIA |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-20 |
| Contractor | US Department of Defense |
| Deployed from | Geocentric orbit |
| Deployment date | 06 May 1965 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Active |
| Decay date | In c. 30000 years |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Medium Earth |
| Period | 145.6 minutes |
| RAAN | 1 hour 35 minutes |
The Lincoln Calibration Sphere 1, or LCS-1, is a large aluminium sphere in Earth orbit since 06 May 1965. It is the oldest spacecraft still in use, having lasted for over 50 years. It was launched along with the Lincoln Experimental Satellite-2 on a Titan IIIA. It is technically the oldest operational spacecraft, but it has no power supply or fuel; it is merely a metal sphere. It has been used for radar calibration since its launch. It was built by Rohr. Corp. for the MIT Lincoln Laboratory.[1][2]
LCS-1 is a hollow sphere 1.12 m (3 ft 8 in) in diameter with a wall thickness of 3.2 mm (0.13 in). [2] The sphere was constructed from two hemispheres, made by spinning sheet metal over a mold. These hemispheres were fastened an internal, circumferential hoop by 440 countersunk screws, then milled and polished. [3]
Before being launched to orbit, the optical cross section of the LCS-1 was measured in L, S, C, X and K microwave bands. Four other spheres were also manufactured and measured for comparison to the one in orbit. [4]
References
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