Research and Development on Instrumentation for Atlas-Able V

The University of Chicago under Contract No. NASw-162 has completed the development and fabrication of four cosmic-ray, triple-coincidence telescopes and three gold-silicon, solid-state detectors for use in the Atlas-Able V Lunar Orbiter program. All flight instruments and spares were delivered to and accepted by Space Technology Laboratories (STL) for use in the Atlas-Able V Lunar Orbital program.

One instrument of each type was used in the type testing program for this vehicle. These instruments are being retained in the type test payload at STL. Two telescopes and one gold-silicon instrument were expended in the launch attempts and one instrument of each type was returned to The University of Chicago for retention. These instruments are being held subject to the decision for final disposition by NASA.

Members of the University of Chicago were present through the time of launch for both vehicles and maintained system checks of the experimental equipment provided by the University. Instrument performance was satisfactory in both cases, until vehicle failure.