| Operator | SERC |
|---|---|
| Major contractors | BAC NASA (LSP) |
| Mission type | Ionospheric |
| Launch date | 11 December 1971 20:47:01 GMT |
| Carrier rocket | Scout B-1 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg SLC-5 |
| Mission duration | 1 year (design life) |
| Orbital decay | 12 December 1978 |
| COSPAR ID | 1971-109A |
| Mass | 100 kilograms (220 lb) |
| Orbital elements | |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Inclination | 82.9° |
| Apoapsis | 590 kilometres (370 mi) |
| Periapsis | 473 kilometres (294 mi) |
| Orbital period | 95.3 minutes |
Ariel 4, also known as UK 4, was a British ionospheric research satellite, which was operated by the Science and Engineering Research Council. It was built by the British Aircraft Corporation,[1] and had a mass at launch of 100 kilograms (220 lb).[2] It was launched in 1971, aboard an American rocket.
The launch of Ariel 4 occurred at 20:47:01 GMT on 11 December 1971, from Space Launch Complex 5 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. It was conducted by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, using a Scout B-1 rocket.[3] Ariel 4 was placed into a Low Earth orbit, with a perigee of 473 kilometres (294 mi), an apogee of 590 kilometres (370 mi), 82.9 degrees of inclination and an orbital period of 95.3 minutes. It decayed from orbit on 12 December 1978.[4]
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