The Atmosphere Explorer-C spacecraft temperature alarm

An instrument designed to fly on the Atmosphere Explorer-C (AE-C) spacecraft is described which is to provide a thermal measurement indicative of the temperature of the low mass elements, thus providing information to assist in the decision process regarding real time perigee maneuvers. Also described is the method of achievement of two additional design goals, an indication of the altitude at which aerodynamic heating begins to take place, and a quantitative measure of the aerodynamic flux. Provision of such an instrument obviated the need for very costly and very difficult simulation of the aerodynamic heating during thermal vacuum testing.