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P

P.....Russia, abbreviation for Proton launch vehicle.

P band.....Electromagnetic frequencies between 225 to 1000 MHz. See band.

P-11.....U.S., satellite bus, considered a subsatellite. Built by Lockheed. Flown on some CORONA, ARGON, LANYARD, GAMBIT, HEXAGON, and some scientific Missions, Used until the 1980's. Was part of Program 989. Primary mission may have been the location and elevation of Soviet air defense radars.

P-14.....U.S., satellite, see EXPLORER 10.

P-2.....U.S., satellite, see PIONEER 5.

P-3.....U.S., satellite, see PIONEER, FTO. First launch 1959/11/26

P-30.....U.S., satellite, see PIONEER, FTO. First launch 1960/09/25

P-31.....U.S., satellite, see PIONEER, FTO. First launch 1960/12/18

P-35.....U.S., satellite, meteorological. Early designation for Program 417, DMSP.

P-70.....U.S., satellite. First launch 1971/06/08

P-72.....U.S., satellite. First launch 1972/10/02

P-76.....U.S. Air Force, satellite, communication propagation experiment. Launched at the WTR by a Scout into LEO. First launch 1976/05/22

P-78.....U.S., satellite, see SOLWIND and SCATHA.

P-87.....U.S., satellite, see POLAR BEAR.

P-87-2.....U.S., satellite, see STACKSAT.

P-90.....U.S., satellite, see STEP 01, FTO. First launch 1994/06/27

P-91.....U.S., satellite, see ARGOS. First launch 1999/02/23

P-97.....UK, satellite, scientific, picosat, LEO. Also known as STP P97 or PICOSAT. STP P97-1 is a US satellite which is also known as PICOSAT 9. First launch 2001/09/30

P&F SUBSATELLITE.....U.S., satellite, scientific. launched from APOLLO. First subsatellite launched.

- P&F SUBSATELLITE, 1971 063D, 1971/08/04, APOLLO 15, Saturn 5, selenocent, 1ST subsatellite launched, from APOLLO 15.

- P&F SUBSATELLITE, 1972 031D, 1972/04/24, APOLLO 16, Saturn 5, launched from APOLLO 16, impacted moon 1972/05/29.

First launch 1971/08/04

P230.....ESA, launch vehicle booster, MPS Europropulsion motor, for Ariane 5 EAP, uses 2 each.

P240.....ESA, launch vehicle booster, MPS Europropulsion motor, for Ariane 5 EAP, uses 2 each.

P4.....France, launch vehicle motor, used in Rita I, stage of Diamant launch vehicle.

P80 FW.....Italy, launch vehicle motor, thrust 508,000 lbf (2261 kN), pressure 1285 psi (88.6 bar), solid propellant HTPB 1912. Manufactured by Fiat Avio. Used on the Vega launch vehicle stage 1.

P9.5.....ESA, launch vehicle motor booster, solid, 1 segment, 145,000 lbf (650 kN), CTPB. Used on Ariane 4.

Pa.....Units of measure, Pascal, pressure or force per unit area. See pascal.

PA.....U.S., space vehicle launch facility, Point Arguello, California (later part of Vandenberg AFB). Location 34o 37'N, 120o 35'W

PA.....Launch vehicle motor, Picatinny Arsenal.

PAC.....U.S., satellite, technology. Test of semi-active gravity gradient stabilizer (SAGS) technique. Launched at the ETR by a LTTA Delta N into a LEO and decayed 04/28/77. First launch 1969/08/09

Pacific Missile Range Facility.....U.S., Navy, organization. Located on Kauai, Hawaii. Also known as PMRF (Pacific Missile Range Facility).

Pacific Ocean Region.....See POR.

PACSAT.....U.S. satellite, telecommunications. Also known as MICROSAT 1, or OSCAR 16. First launch 1990/01/22

Padalka, Gennadi.....Russia, cosmonaut, SOYUZ TM 28, 1998/08/13, Soyuz TMA 04, 2004/04/19. First launch 1998/08/13

PADDLEWHEEL PROBE.....U.S., satellite, see PIONEER 5. First launch 1960/03/11

PADDLEWHEEL SATELLITE.....U.S., satellite, see EXPLOER 6. First launch 1959/08/07

PAFB.....U.S., organization. See Patrick Air Force Base, Florida,

PAGEOS.....U.S., satellite, geodetic. PASSIVE GEOS, passive Echo-type sunlight reflector, 100 foot balloon. Photographed to determine precise location of continents, islands and other land masses to determine geographic points in relation to one another. Launched at the WTR by a TAT Agena D into a LEO. First launch 1966/06/24

Pailes, William.....U.S., astronaut, STS-51J (21), 1985/10/03. First launch 1985/10/03

Paiute ATF 159.....USS Paiute ATF 159, recovery ship, part of the fleet which recovered or was on duty and capable of recovering the following: APOLLO 14.

PAKISTAN COMMUNICATION SATELLITE.....Pakistan, satellite, hamsat (ham satellites). See BADR.

PAKSAT.....Pakistan, satellite, mobile communications, GEO. Was ANATOLIA and PALAPA.First launch 1996/05/16

PAL.....ESA, launch vehicle, strap-on booster, liquid. Uses Viking V1 motor, used on Ariane 4. Propulseur d'appoint á liquid, Ariane 4 liquid rocket booster.

palapa.....Indonesia, unity.

PALAPA.....Indonesia, satellite, communication.

- PALAPA 01, 1976 066A, 1976/07/08, ETR, Delta, GEO.

- PALAPA 02, 1977 018A, 1977/03/10, ETR, Delta, GEO.

- PALAPA B1, 1983 059C, 1983/06/18, KSC, STS-007/PAM D, GEO, STS-007.

- PALAPA B2, 1984 011D, 1984/02/04, STS-41B, PAM D, GEO, CHALLENGER, recovered by ST-51A 1984/11/16.

- PALAPA B2P, 1987 029A, 1987/03/20, ESMC, Delta, GEO. Renamed AGILA 1.

- PALAPA B2R, 1990 034A, 1990/04/13, ESMC, Delta 2, GEO, refurbished B2.

- PALAPA B4, 1992 027A, 1992/05/14, ESMC, Delta 2, GEO.

- PALAPA B4, 1992 027A, 1992/05/14, KSC, Delta, GEO.

- PALAPA C1, 1996/02/01, ETR, Atlas 2AS, GEO.

- PALAPA C2, 1996/05/16, Kourou, Ariane 44L V 86, GEO.

First launch 1976/07/08

PALB.....Israel, space vehicle launch facility, Palmachim AFB. Location 31.9N 34.7E, see Yavne.

PALC.....U.S., space vehicle launch facility, Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello, California, Launch Complex, part of the Western Range, Vandenberg AFB, CA.

Palmachin.....Israel, launch site for Shavit launch vehicle. First launch 1998/09/19

PAM-D.....U.S., launch vehicle. NASA, Payload assist module. Solid rocket booster system to transfer satellites from STS orbits into higher energy orbits. Launched at KSC on STS-5. DoD designation SSB-9 A, used on Delta II, First launch 1982/11/01

PAM-D2.....U.S., launch vehicle Stage with Star-63D engine. Also known as PAM-DII.

PAM-DII.....U.S., launch vehicle Stage with Star-63D engine. Also known as PAM-D2.

PAMS/STU.....U.S. satellite, technology. PASSIVE AERODYNAMICALLY STABILIZED MAGNETICALLY DAMPED SATELLITE, satellite TEST UNIT. Launched from the KSC by STS 77, satellite reentered 1996/10/20. First launch 1996/05/19

Pan.....Saturn moon, one of 19. See Prometheus, Pandora, Atlas, Epimetheus, Janus, Mimas, Helene, Enceladus, Tethys, Calypso, Telesto, Dione, Pan, 1995-S4, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Laptus, Phoebe.

PAN AMERICAN SATELLITE.....U.S., satellite. Also known as PANAMSAT or PAS. See PAS.

PanAmSat.....U.S., aerospace company, commercial satellite operator, GALAXY, PAS, SBS. Address: 20 Westport Rd., Wilton, CT 06897,USA. Purchased Europstar in 2005. PanAmSat merged with Intelsat in 2005. www.panamsat.com.

PANAMSAT.....U.S., satellite. PAN AMERICAN SATELLITE. See PAS.

Pandora.....Saturn moon, one of 19. See Prometheus, Pandora, Atlas, Epimetheus, Janus, Mimas, Helene, Enceladus, Tethys, Calypso, Telesto, Dione, Pan, 1995-S4, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Laptus, Phoebe.

PANMF.....U.S., organization. See Point Arguello.

PANSAT.....U.S., Navy, communicating, digital. PETITE AMATEUR NAVY SATELLITE. To be launched from the ISS.

First launch 1998/10/29

PAP.....ESA, launch vehicle motor booster, solid, 1 segment, 145,000 lbf (650 kN), CTPB. Used on Ariane 4. Propulseur d'appoint á poudre, Ariane 4 solid rocket boosters.

Parabolic orbit.....Orbit that is the minimum escape trajectory.

Parabolic Orbit

value

A = semimajor axis

A = ∞

c = 1/2 distance between foci

c = ∞

e = eccentricity

e = 1

ε = specific mechanical energy

ε = 0

paraffin.....Launch vehicle propellant, solid, fuel, hydrocarbon. Used in smaller rockets and hybrid rockets. Not used in Spacecraft Launch vehicles.

PARASOL.....France, satellite, characterization of radiative and micro physical properties. Part of A-TRAIN constillation. First launch 2006/04/28

Parazynski, Scott.....U.S., astronaut, STS-66, 1994/11/03, STS-086, 1997/09/25, STS-095, 1998/10/29, STS-100, 2001/4/19. First launch 1994/11/03

PARCAE.....U.S. Navy, NAVAL OCEAN SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (NOSS). See NOSS. Also known as WHITE CLOUD, OPS 7898 P/L.

- PARCAE 1, 1976 038A, 1976/04/30, WTR, Atlas F, LEO, SUBSATELLITE SS 3.

- PARCAE 2, 1977 112A, 1977/12/07, WTR, Atlas F, LEO, SUBSATELLITE SS 3.

- PARCAE 3, 1980 019A, 1980/03/03, WTR, Atlas F, LEO, SUBSATELLITE EP 3.

- PARCAE 4, None, 1980/12/09, WTR, Atlas E, FTO.

- PARCAE 5, 1983 008A, 1983/02/09, WTR, Atlas H, LEO, SUBSATELLITE SS C.

- PARCAE 6, 1983 056A, 1983/06/09, WTR, Atlas H, LEO, SUBSATELLITE GB 3.

- PARCAE 7, 1984 012A, 1984/02/05, WTR, Atlas H, LEO, SUBSATELLITE JD 3.

- PARCAE 8, 1986 014A, 1986/02/09, WTR, Atlas H, LEO, USA 14, SUBSATELLITE US 15-18.

- PARCAE 9, 1987 043A, 1987/05/15, WTR, Atlas H, LEO, USA 22, SUBSATELLITE US 22-25.

First launch 1976/04/30

Paris.....France, Headquarters for the European Space Agency (ESA).

Parise, Ronald.....U.S., astronaut, STS-35, 1990/12/02, STS-67, 1995/03/02. First launch 1990/12/02

Parker, Robert.....U.S., astronaut, STS-9, 1983/11/28, STS-35, 1990/12/02. First launch 1983/11/28

parking orbit.....Temporary orbit.

Parks Observatory.....Australia, organization. Radio observatory. The 64 meter Radio dish can be combined with Tidbinbilla as part of NASA’s DSN.

Parus.....Russia, Constellation Vela, the Sail.

PARUS.....Russia, satellite, military navigation, LEO.

- PARUS ?, 1996/09/05, Plesetsk, Cosmos 3M, COSMOS 2310, 2321, 2327, 2334, 2341, 2346, 2361.. First launch 1974/12/26

Pas.....U.S., payload adapter system.

PAS.....U.S. satellite, telecommunication. PANAMSAT, PAN AMERICAN SATELLITE. Name changed to IS or INTELSAT in 2007.

- PAS 01, 1988 051C, 1988/06/15, Kourou, Ariane 4, GEO, US, PANAMSAT 1.

- PAS 02, 1994 040A, 1994/07/08, Kourou, Ariane 44L, GEO, PANAMSAT 2.

- PAS 03, None, 1994/12/01, Kourou, Ariane 42P, FTO, PANAMSAT.

- PAS 03R, 1996 002A, 1996/01/12, Kourou, Ariane 44L, GEO, PANAMSAT 3.

- PAS 04, 1995 040A, 1995/08/03, Kourou, Ariane 42L, GEO, PANAMSAT 4.

First launch 1988/06/15

PAS LITE.....U.S., satellite, communications. GEO. PAN AMERICAN SATELLITE.

Pascal.....Units of measure, pressure or force per unit area. 1 pascal = 10-5 bar.

PASCOMSAT.....U.S., satellite, see OV1-8. First launch 1966/07/14

PASIFIK SATELIT NUSANTARA.....Indonesia, organization. See PSN.

Pasiphae.....Jupiter moon, one of 16. See also Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, Thebe, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Leda, Sinope, Himalia, Lysithea, Elara, Ananke, Carme, Pasiphae.

PASSIVE GEOS.....U.S. satellite. See PAGEOS.

PASSIVE RELAY.....U.S., satellite, see ECHO 1 First launch 1960/08/12

PATHFINDER.....U.S. USAF, satellite, military communications. Also known as SBSS PATHFINDER.First launch 2008/00/00

Patrick Air Force Base.....U.S., space vehicle launch facility. Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, launch site. Separate entity of the Eastern Range (ER).

- 1940 Banana River Naval Air Station

- 1948 Joint Long Range Proving Ground (JLRPG)

- 1950 Patrick Air Force Base.

In early days some missiles were assembled at PAFB and transported to Cape Canaveral (another part of the ER) for Launch.

Patrick, Nicholas.....U.S., astronaut, STS-116, 2006/12/09. First launch 2006/12/09

Patsaye, Viktor.....Russia, cosmonaut, SOYUZ 11, 1971/06/06. First launch 1971/06/06

Pavel Belyayev.....Russia, tracking ship. See also tracking ships.

PAWA.....U.S., space vehicle launch facility, Drop Zone, Point Arguello Warning Area. Location 36.0o N 123.0o W, part of Vandenberg AFB.

Pawelczyk, Jim.....U.S., astronaut, STS-090, 1998/04/17. First launch 1998/04/17

Payette, Julie.....Canada, astronaut, STS-096,1999/5/27. First launch 1999/05/27

payload.....The load that is carried by a rocket or space vehicle and consists of things (as passengers or instruments) that relate directly to the purpose of the flight.

Payload Operation and Application Centre.....China, organization, see POAC.

Payload RTV-7.....U.S., satellite, also known as EXPLORER 1 or Deal 1

Payton, Gary.....U.S., astronaut, STS-51C (15), 1985/01/24. First launch 1985/01/24

PBAA.....Launch vehicle propellant, solid, fuel. See Polybutadiene acrylic acid.

PBAN.....Launch vehicle propellant, solid, fuel. See Polybutadiene acrylonitrile.

PC.....U.S., space vehicle launch facility. See Port Canaveral, Florida.

PCP.....Launch vehicle propellant, solid, fuel & binder, see polycaprolactone polyol.

PCSAT.....U.S., satellite, armature radio. FTO. First launch 2001/09/25

PDP.....U.S. satellite, satellite. PLASMA DIAGNOSTIC PACKAGE.

- PDP, 1985 063B, 1985/08/01, KSC, STS-51F, LEO, CHALLENGER, Landed 08/6/85

First launch 1985/08/01

PE.....Potential Energy. See orbital total energy.

Peacekeeper.....U.S., launch vehicle, LGM-118, MGM-118, ICBM, 2800 lbm (1300 kg) LEO.

PEG.....Launch vehicle propellant, solid, fuel & binder, see polyethylene glycol.

PegaStar.....U.S., satellite bus, Orbital Sciences Corp. LEO.

Pegasus.....U.S., launch vehicle, Civilian Launch Vehicle with wings, 3 stages, launched from an aircraft, LEO. DoD designation ASB-11 A.

- Pegasus, 780 lbs (355 kg), LEO.

- Pegasus XL, 935 lbs (425 kg), LEO. Stage 0, L-1011 aircraft. Stage 1, Orion 50SXL motor. Stage 2, Orion 50XL motor. Stage 3, Orion 38 motor. Stage 4, Haps.

- Pegasus XL/Star 37, 286 lb. (130 kg), GTO.

- 1990/04/05, PEGSAT/DARPSAT, Pegasus.

- 1991/07/17, DARPSAT 2/MICROSAT 1-7, Pegasus/HAPS.

- 1993/02/09, ORBICOMM CDS, SCD-1, Pegasus.

- 1993/04/25, ALEXIS, Pegasus.

- 1994/05/19, STEP 2, Pegasus/HAPS.

- 1994/06/27, STEP 1, Pegasus XL.

- 1994/08/03, APEX, Pegasus.

- 1995/04/03, ORBCOMM 1, 2, MICROLAB-1, Pegasus.

- 1995/06/22, STEP 3, Pegasus XL.

- 1996/03/08, REX, Pegasus XL.

- 1996/05/17, MSTI-III, Pegasus.

- 1996/07/02, TOMS-EP, Pegasus XL.

- 1996/08/21, FAST, Pegasus XL.

- 1996/11/04, SAC-B/HETE, Pegasus XL.

- 1997/04/21, MINISAT, Pegasus XL.

First launch 1990/04/05

Pegasus.....Winged horse of Greek mythology.

PEGASUS.....U.S., satellite, scientific. Investigate Micrometeoroid. Named after the winged horse of Greek mythology.

- PEGASUS 01, 1965 009A, 1965/02/16, ETR, Saturn 1, LEO, decayed 09/17/78.

- PEGASUS 02, 1965 039A, 1965/05/25, ETR, Saturn 1, LEO, decayed 11/3/79.

- PEGASUS 03, 1965 060A, 1965/07/30, ETR, Saturn 1, LEO, decayed 08/4/69.

First launch 1965/02/16

PEGASUS SATELLITE.....U.S. satellite. See PEGSAT.

PEGSAT.....U.S. satellite. Also known as PACIFIC. PEGASUS SATELLITE launch dropped from B-52, launched by Pegasus into a LEO.

First launch 1990/04/05

PEOLE.....France, satellite, meteorological. Gathered data from meteorological balloon system to be utilized for ECOLE. Launched at Kourou by Diamant B into a LEO. First launch 1970/12/12

Peoples Liberation Army.....China, military space agency, PLA. Manages teh SHENZHOU manned program and military space activities.

Percheron.....U.S., SSI, sounding rocket, private. See also Conestoga. First launch 1981/08/05

Peri-.....Orbit. Prefix, near.

Peri-

(near)

apsis (point in an eccentric orbit)

 

cynthion (moon)

 

ge or gee (gaia, earth, spelled)

 

helion, helio (sun)

 

jove (jupiter)

 

luna (moon)

 

selene (moon)

periapsis.....Orbit component. Closest approach to planet or other body. Other names: Earth - perigee; Jupiter - perijove; Lunar - periselene or periluna; Sun - perihelion.

Pericenter.....The point in an orbit closest to the body, other than the Sun or Earth.

pericynthion.....Orbit. Closes distance to the moon.

perigeal.....Orbital component. See perigee.

Perigean.....Orbital component. See perigee.

perigee.....Orbital component. Closes approach to Earth. Kinetic energy of s spacecraft is at a mzximum and potentioal energy of the spacecraft is at a minimum. See ellictipcal orbit.

Perigee Kick Motor.....China, launch vehicle motor, PKM and EPKM.

Perihelian.....Orbital component. The nearest point of the orbit to the Sun.

perihelion.....Orbital component. The nearest point of the orbit to the Sun.

perijove.....Orbital component. Closes approach to Jupiter.

perilune.....Orbital component. Closest approach to the moon.

Period of revolution of a planet planet.....See planet.

Period of Revolution.....The time for a planet, moon, satellite, spacecraft, etc., to make one complete orbit. See Planet or orbit.

Periodic orbit.....An orbit that has a constant period, time of rotation.

periseleno.....Orbital component. The point in an orbit around the moon, closest to the surface of the moon.

Perry.....USS Perry, recovery ship, part of the fleet which recovered or was on duty and capable of recovering the following: MERCURY Redstone 3.

Perseus.....Russia, mission title for Soyuz TM-28. First launch 1999/01/13

Peterson, Donald.....U.S., astronaut, STS-6, 1983/04/04. First launch 1983/04/04

PETITE AMATEUR NAVY SATELLITE.....U.S., Navy. See PANSAT.

PFRR.....U.S., organization. Poker Flats Research Range. See Poker Flats Range.

PGA.....Launch vehicle propellant, solid, fuel & binder, polyglycol adipate.

PGM-11 A.....U.S., launch vehicle, see Redstone.

PGM-17 A.....U.S., launch vehicle, Thor.

PGM-19 A.....U.S., launch vehicle, Jupiter.

PHASE 3D.....Germany, satellite, mobile communications, LEO. See AMSAT PHASE 3D. Also known as AMSAT-OSCAR 40, or AO 40.

Phasing orbit.....- An orbit maintained until the geometry is favorable to establish a desired final orbit.

- An orbit between the Earth and Moon that follows the Moon around in its orbit.
phasing1.gifFigure 39 WMAP Trajectory to L2, showing Phasing Orbits and Lissajous Orbits.

phi.....Φ, φ, phi, 21, Greek Alphabet.

Philippe Perrin.....France, CNES, astronaut, STS-111, 2002/06/05. First launch 2002/06/05

Phillip DD 498.....USS Phillip DD 498, recovery ship, part of the fleet which recovered or was on duty and capable of recovering the following: MERCURY Atlas 8.

Phillips, John L.....U.S., astronaut, STS-100, 2001/4/19. SOYUZ TMA 6 Expedition 11, 2005/4/15, First launch 2001/04/19

Phillips Magnavox Electronics.....U.S., aerospace company, became part of G.M. Hughs Electronics in 1992.

phobos.....See Phobus.

Phobos.....Mars moon. See also Demos.

PHOBOS.....Russia, international project to study Mars and its moon Phobos. Also known as FOBOS.

- PHOBOS 01, 1988 058A, 1988/07/07, Tyuratam, SL-12, MARS Trajectory.

- PHOBOS 02, 1988 059A, 1988/07/12, Tyuratam, SL-12, MARS Trajectory.

First launch 1988/07/07

PHOBOS GRUNT.....Russia, satellite, scientific. Land on Phobos and return sample. First launch 2009/00/00

Phobus.....Son and attendant of Ares. Also personification of the fear which possesses armies and causes their defeat.

Phoebe.....Saturn moon, one of 19. See Prometheus, Pandora, Atlas, Epimetheus, Janus, Mimas, Helene, Enceladus, Tethys, Calypso, Telesto, Dione, Pan, 1995-S4, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Laptus, Phoebe.

PHOENIX.....U.S., satellite, Mars robotic lander. The robotic lander will search for water in Mars north polar region. First launch 2007/00/00

PHOTON.....Russia, satellite, scientific. Analyze gamma rays from the sun.

pi.....Π, π, pi, 16, Greek Alphabet.

PICARD.....France, satellite, microsatellite, scientific, solar observation. First launch 2008/00/00

Picasso, Pablo.....Spain, 1881-1973, painter.

PICASSO.....Europe, CNES/U.S. NASA, satellite, scientific. Lidar instrumentation.

PICCOLO CUBO DEL POLITECNICO DI TORINO.....Italy, satellite, imaging, see PICPOT.

PICOSAT.....UK, satellite, see P97.

PICOSAT.....U.S., satellite, technology. First launch 2000/01/24

picosatellite.....Satellite, weight 0.22 - 2.2 lbs (0.1-1 kg)

PicoStar.....U.S., satellite bus, Orbital Sciences Corp. Micro satellites.,

PICPOT.....Italy, satellite, imaging. Also known as PICCOLO CUBO DEL POLITECNICO DI TORINO First launch 2006/07/26

Pierce DD 753.....USS Pierce DD 753, recovery ship, part of the fleet which recovered or was on duty and capable of recovering the following: MERCURY Atlas 7.

Piers Sellers.....U.S., astronaut, STS-112, 2002/10/07, STS-121, 2006/07/04. First launch 2002/10/07

PIGGYPACK SATELLITE.....U.S., satellite, see TRANSIT 2-A First launch 1960/06/22

PILLBOX.....U.S., satellite, see TIROS 1 First launch 1960/04/01

PION.....Russia, satellite, scientific. Research of the upper atmosphere Deployed from RESURS F satellite.

- PION 01, 1989 038C, 1989/06/09, RESURS-F, SL-4, LEO, 1989/07/23.

- PION 02, 1989 038D, 1989/06/09, RESURS-F, SL-4, LEO, 1989/07/24.

- PION 03, 1989 055C, 1989/08/07, RESURS-F, SL-4, LEO, 1989/09/19.

- PION 04, 1989 055D, 1989/08/07, RESURS-F, SL-4, LEO, 1989/09/19.

- PION 05, 1992 056C, 1992/08/19, RESURS-F, SL-4, LEO, 1992/09/25.

- PION 06, 1992 056D, 1992/08/19, RESURS-F, SL-4, LEO, 1992/09/24.

First launch 1989/06/09

PIONEER.....U.S., satellite, scientific. Explore the planets (1, 2, 3, 9, E failed), (4 Moon), (5, 6, 7, 8 Solar Orbits), (10 Jupiter), (11 Jupiter & Saturn), (Pioneer-Venus 1, 2 Venus+.)

- PIONEER 01, 1958 H1, 1958/10/11, ETR, Thor Able, Trans LUNA, decayed 10/12/5.

- PIONEER 02, None, 1958/11/08, ETR, Thor Able, FTO.

- PIONEER 03, 1958 H1, 1958/12/06, ETR, Juno II, Trans Luna decayed 12/7/59.

- PIONEER 04, 1959 N1, 1959/03/03, ETR, Juno II, Solar orbit.

- PIONEER P-3, None, 1959/11/26, ETR, Atlas Able, FTO.

- PIONEER 05, 1960 A1, 1960/03/11, ETR, Thor Able, Solar orbit, DATA UNTIL 06/26.

- PIONEER P-30, None, 1960/09/25, ETR, Atlas Able, FTO.

- PIONEER P-31, None, 1960/12/18, ETR, Atlas Able, FTO.

- PIONEER 06, 1965 105A, 1965/12/16, ETR, TAD, Solar orbit.

- PIONEER 07, 1966 075A, 1966/08/17, ETR, TAD, Solar orbit.

- PIONEER 08, 1967 123A, 1967/12/13, ETR, TAD, Solar orbit.

- PIONEER 09, 1968 100A, 1968/11/08, ETR, TAID, Solar orbit.

- PIONEER E, None, 1969/08/27, ETR, LTTA-Delta, FTO.

- PIONEER 10, 1972 012A, 1972/03/03, ETR, Atlas Centaur, Escape solar, - PIONEER F.

- PIONEER 11, 1973 019A, 1973/04/06, ETR, Atlas Centaur, Trans Solar, - PIONEER G.

- PIONEER 12, 1978 051A, 1978/05/20, ETR, Atlas Centaur, Trans VENUS, - PIONEER VENUS 1, or PV1.

- PIONEER 13, 1978 078A, 1978/08/08, ETR, Atlas Centaur, Trans VENUS, - PIONEER VENUS 2 or PV2.

First launch 1958/10/11

PIONEER VENUS MULTIPROVE.....U.S., satellite, see PV2.

PIONEER VENUS ORBITER.....U.S., satellite, see PV1.

pirs.....Russia, means pier.

PIRS.....Russia, satellite, ISSA module, LEO, placed in orbit by Progress-M. Was the TSIKOVOCHNY OSTEK N0 1 or SO-1, docking module article 240 GK N0 1L. Built by Energia. First launch 2001/09/14

Pisces.....Astrological Sign, Fish, 2/19/3/20.

PIX.....U.S. satellite, scientific. PLASMA INTERACTION EXPERIMENT. Launched at the WTR by a Delta into LEO. First launch 1978/03/05

PKM.....China, launch vehicle motor, Perigee Kick Motor, manufactured in China, used on the CZ-2E launch vehicle.

PL-40.....India, launch vehicle motor, Polar launch Vehicle Liquid 40 tons. See PS2.

PLA.....China, military space agency, see Peoples Liberation Army.

Planck.....Max Planck, 1858-1947, quantum theorist.

PLANCK.....Europe, ESA, satellite, scientific, see PLANCK SURVEYOR.

PLANCK SURVEYOR.....Europe, ESA, satellite, scientific. Measure cosmic background. First launch 2005/00/00

Planet.....Radius of orbit

Name

Planet Radius of orbit

[106 km]

Sun

-

Moon

0.383

Mercury

57.870

Venus

108.100

Earth

149.600

Mars

227.700

Jupiter

777.800

Saturn

1,486.000

Uranus

2,869.000

Neptune

4,475.000

Pluto

5,899.000

Period of Revolution

Name

Planet Period of Revolution

Sun

-

Moon

27.3 days

Mercury

87.97 days

Venus

224.7 days

Earth

365.25 days

Mars

687 days

Jupiter

11.86 years

Saturn

29.46 years

Uranus

84 years

Neptune

164.8 years

Pluto

284.8 years

Diameter of Sun and planets

Name

Planet Diameter [km]

Sun

1,393,000

Moon

3,475

Mercury

4,670

Venus

12,400

Earth

12,742

Mars

6,760

Jupiter

143,000

Saturn

121,000

Uranus

47,100

Neptune

50,700

Pluto

5,950

Mass of planets

Earth = 5.976x1024 kg

Name

Planet Relative Mass

Earth = 1

Sun

332950.000

Moon

0.012

Mercury

0.060

Venus

0.860

Earth

1.000

Mars

0.150

Jupiter

318.400

Saturn

95.200

Uranus

15.000

Neptune

17.200

Pluto

0.900

Acceleration of Gravity at surface

Name

Planet Acceleration of Gravity

[m/sec2]

Sun

273.4

Moon

1.58

Mercury

3.67

Venus

8.67

Earth

9.8

Mars

3.75

Jupiter

26

Saturn

11.4

Uranus

10.9

Neptune

11.9

Pluto

7.62

Escape Velocity at Surface

Name

Planet Escape Velocity

[m/sec]

Sun

616,000

Moon

2,380

Mercury

4,200

Venus

10,300

Earth

11,179

Mars

6,400

Jupiter

59,700

Saturn

35,400

Uranus

22,400

Neptune

31,000

Pluto

10,000

PLANET-A.....Japan, satellite. See SUISEI

PLANET-B.....Japan, ISAS, satellite, scientific, Mars orbit. Orbiter that will dip to within 108 miles of the Mars surface. Launch using a M-5. Renamed NOXOMI. Will orbit Mars in 2003. First launch 1998/07/03

Plant No. 293 Dept.....Russia, Poblipki, Kaliningrad, Korolev, organization. See OKB-2.

PLASMA DIAGNOSTIC PACKAGE.....U.S., satellite. See PDP.

PLASMA INTERACTION EXPERIMENT.....U.S., satellite. See PIX.

PLASMA MOTOR GENERATOR.....U.S., satellite. See PMG.

PLASMA PROBE.....U.S., satellite, see EXPLOER 10. First launch 1961/03/25

Pleiades.....Greek, a cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus, six of which are visible and represent the six daughters of Atlas.

PLEIADES.....France and Italy, satellite, optical, high resolution, 2 satellite constellation. Also known as COSMOS PLEIADES. Part of Orfeo program, takes 70 cm per pixal high resolution digital images of Earth. First launch 2008/00/00

Plesetsk Cosmodrom.....Russia, space vehicle launch facility. Plesetsk, Russia Cosmodrom (launch site) is located south of Archangel at a latitude which enables satellites to be placed in polar and highly elliptical orbits. Location 62.7o N, 40.3o E. Its existence was established following its first orbital launch (Cosmos 112) in March 1966. The Plesetsk Cosmodrom, also called Mirny, is known to Russians as the Northern Cosmodrom and has similarities to Vandenberg Air Force Base in the U.S. It contains a large number of launch pads as well as underground silos. It has been the world's busiest space center, supporting over 1200 launches. It is near the town of Plesetsk, it is collocated with the town of Mirny. The facility can launch Soyuz, Molniya, Tsyklon, and Cosmos vehicles. POC Glavkosmos, 9, Krasnoproletarskaya St, Moscow 103030, Russia or the Space Commerce Corporation. Cyrillic КОСМОДРОМ ПЛЕСЕЦК, for Cosmodrom Plesetsk, or Plesetsk Kosmodrom.

Pluto.....The 9th planet from the Sun, 3,666 million miles from the Sun, period of revolution 249 years, diameter 1,400 miles, 1 satellites (See Charon), unknown rings. graphic symbol.

pluto.gifFigure 40 Pluto graphic symbol.

Pluto orbit.....Orbit around the planet Pluto.

PLUTO EXPRESS.....U.S., NASA/JPL, satellite, scientific. Studying Titan, Triton, Pluto and icy bodies beyond Neptune. Satellite would arrive at Pluto about 2013-16. First launch 2006/00/00

PLUTO KUIPER EXPRESS.....U.S., satellite. See PLUTO EXPRESS

PMG.....U.S., satellite, tether experiment. PLASMA MOTOR GENERATOR. First launch 1993/06/23

PMRF.....U.S., space vehicle launch facility. See Pacific Missile Range Facility.

PN06.....U.S., satellite, see PIONEER 6.

PO.....Russia, organization, production association.

PO Arsenal imeni M. V. Frunze.....Russia, organization. See TsKB-7.

PO.64.....France, launch vehicle motor, used in Rubis launch vehicle stage, stage 3 of Diamant.

PO.68.....France, launch vehicle motor, with a Colibri grain, stage 3 of Diamant.

POAC.....China, organization, Payload Operation and Application Centre, P.O. Box 8701,100080, P.R., China, Tel:86-010-6263.0662, Fax: 86-010-6263.0645, http://www.poac.ac.cn.

POES.....U.S. NOAA, satellite, Earth observation, LEO. POLAR-ORBITING OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE. Also known as NOAA-L.

POGO.....U.S., satellite. POLAR ORBITING GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY. See OGO 4.

POGOS.....U.S. Satellites. See OGO 4.

First launch 1967/07/28

POGS.....U.S., satellites, Classified, USA 56, 1990 031A. Launched at the WTR by an Atlas E into a Polar Orbit. First launch 1990/04/11

Pogue, Bill.....U.S., astronaut, APOLLO/SKYLAB 4, 1973/11/16. First launch 1973/11/16