# Polar BEAR

> U.S. Air Force research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q25515091](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25515091)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_BEAR)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/polar-bear-q25515091

## Summary
Polar BEAR (Polar Beacon Experiment and Auroral Research) was a U.S. Air Force research satellite launched in 1986. Designed to study auroral phenomena, the military spacecraft was built by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and utilized the Transit spacecraft bus.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** November 14, 1986 (00:23 UTC)
- **Manufacturer:** Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
- **Launch Vehicle:** Scout G-1 (Solid-propellant launch vehicle)
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5
- **Mass:** 125 kilograms
- **Height:** 1.30 metres
- **Mission Type:** Research satellite / Military satellite
- **Sponsor:** Space Test Program (STP P87-A)
- **COSPAR ID:** 1986-088A
- **Predecessor:** HILAT (U.S. Air Force research satellite)

## FAQs
### Q: What does the acronym Polar BEAR stand for?
A: Polar BEAR stands for "Polar Beacon Experiment and Auroral Research." It also held the technical designation STP P87-A.

### Q: Who built and operated the Polar BEAR satellite?
A: The satellite was manufactured by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. It was sponsored by the U.S. Air Force's Space Test Program.

### Q: When and how was Polar BEAR launched?
A: Polar BEAR was launched on November 14, 1986, at 00:23 UTC. It was delivered into orbit using a Scout G-1 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5.

## Why It Matters
Polar BEAR serves as a significant example of dedicated scientific research conducted within the framework of the U.S. Space Test Program (STP). By utilizing the Transit spacecraft bus—a platform originally developed for naval navigation—the mission demonstrated the adaptability of existing military technology for specialized auroral research.

Launched in the mid-1980s, the satellite contributed to the understanding of the Earth's upper atmosphere, specifically focusing on the auroral regions. This research is critical for both scientific understanding of space weather and military applications regarding ionospheric communications. The mission followed the HILAT satellite, continuing a specific lineage of Air Force experiments designed to investigate high-latitude ionospheric phenomena. The use of a solid-propellant Scout G-1 rocket highlights the launch capabilities employed for smaller, specialized military payloads during this era.

## Notable For
- **Dual Classification:** Unlike many satellites that serve a single primary function, Polar BEAR is explicitly classified as both a military satellite and a research satellite.
- **Specific Research Focus:** The name explicitly identifies its mission as "Auroral Research" and "Beacon Experiment," distinguishing it from general-purpose observation satellites.
- **Lineage:** It is the direct successor to the HILAT satellite, continuing a specific chain of U.S. Air Force high-latitude research.
- **Platform Reuse:** It utilized the Transit spacecraft bus, adapting navigation technology for scientific research.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
Polar BEAR was a compact spacecraft with a total mass of 125 kilograms and a height of 1.30 metres. The construction and design were managed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The satellite was built upon the Transit bus, a design with heritage in the U.S. Navy's Naval Navigation Satellite System.

### Mission History
The satellite was assigned the Space Test Program designation STP P87-A. It was successfully launched on November 14, 1986, at 00:23 UTC. The launch originated from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5.

The launch was facilitated by a Scout G-1 rocket, an American solid-propellant space launch vehicle frequently used for orbital insertions of smaller military and scientific payloads. Following its successful deployment, the satellite was assigned the COSPAR ID 1986-088A and the catalog number 17070.

### Context and Predecessors
Polar BEAR was part of a series of U.S. Air Force investigations. It immediately followed the HILAT satellite in its programmatic sequence. While HILAT (High Latitude) focused on similar high-latitude ionospheric studies, Polar BEAR continued this work under the specific banner of the Polar Beacon Experiment and Auroral Research.

## Schema Markup
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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/polar-bear.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](http://www.astronautix.com/p/polarbear.html)