192 



U.S.A. 



ORBITING ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES (OAO) 

 NASA 



"Big Science" Descriptor : Space: physics and astronomy 



Description of Facility/Instrument : Three satellites were launched suc- 

 cessfully, but one failed In orbit. The two completely successful 

 missions gathered Information on several stars, nebulae In the 

 ultraviolet range, and information on the coronas of stars. 



Date of Construction : 1966-1972 (launches) 



Construction Cost ; 198A $$ : $336.4 million 



Present International Cooperation 



Natlonallty(s) of Ownership : U.S. 

 Natlonallty(s) of Operational Funding : U.S. 

 Natlonallty(s) of Management Staff : U.S. 

 Natlonallty(s) of Researchers : U.S. 



The Mullard Space Science Laboratory In the U.K. sup- 

 plied gamma ray Instrumentation for the OAO-C mission. 



Other Information ; OAO - 1(A): Successfully launched on April 8, 1966, 

 but lost power In orbit and did not complete mission. 



OAO - II(A2): Successfully launched on December 7, 1968, success- 

 fully completed mission, no longer operational. 



OAO - B: Failed launch on November 30, 1970. 



OAO - C (Copernicus): Successfully launched on August 21, 1972, 

 completed mission objectives, no longer operational. 



