The Third Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-3)

The third US Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-3) was launched in May 1975, with 3 major scientific objectives: 1) determine bright X-ray source locations to an accuracy of 15 arcseconds; 2) study selected sources over the energy range 0.1-55 keV; and 3) continuously search the sky for X-ray novae, flares, and other transient phenomena. It was a spinning satellite with pointing capability.

Mission Characteristics

Lifetime : May 1975 - Apr 1979
Energy Range : 0.1-60 keV
Payload :
There are four X-ray experiments on SAS-3 that all used proportional counters as detectors with different collimating system. The experiments were not co-aligned.

Modulation collimators (2-11 keV)
Slat and Tube collimators (1 up to 60keV)
Low-energy detector system
0.15-1.0 keV, 2.9° FOV

Science Highlights:

Discovery of a dozen X-ray burst sources among which
the Rapid Burster
First discovery of X-ray from an highly magnetic WD binary system, AM Her
Discovery of X-ray from Algol and HZ 43.
Precise location of about 60 X-ray sources
Survey of the Soft X-ray background (0.1-0.28 kev)

Archive : HEASARC hosts Raw Data in their native format

[SAS-3 Home] [About SAS-3] [Archive] [Gallery] [Publications]

[All Missions] [by Time] [by Energy]

Page authors: Lorella Angelini Jesse Allen

Last modified: Thursday, 24-Sep-2020 21:10:10 EDT

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Sciences and Exploration

Search:

The Third Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-3)

Mission Characteristics