| On top of the base was a
tall pyramid-shaped mast on which the
science experiments were mounted which
brought the total height of the
spacecraft to 3.66 meters. Attached to
either side of the base were rectangular
solar panel wings with a total span of 5.05
meters and width of 0.76 meters. Attached
by an arm to one side of the base and
extending below the spacecraft was a
large directional dish antenna. .....The Mariner 2
power system consisted of the two solar
cell wings, one 183 cm by 76 cm and the
other 152 cm by 76 cm (with a 31 cm
dacron extension (a solar sail) to
balance the solar pressure on the panels)
which powered the craft directly or
recharged a 1000 Watt-hour sealed silver-zinc
cell battery, which was used before the
panels were deployed, when the panels
were not illuminated by the Sun, and when
loads were heavy. A power-switching and
booster regulator device controlled the
power flow.
|
