Explorer S-45A was a NASA satellite, which was lost in a launch failure in 1961. The satellite was intended to operate in a highly elliptical orbit, from which it was to have provided data on the shape of the ionosphere,[1] and on the Earth's magnetic field.[2] It was part of the Explorer program and would have been designated Explorer 12 had it reached orbit. It was the second of two identical satellites to be launched; the first, Explorer S-45, had also been lost in a launch failure, earlier in the year.[2]
 Explorer S-45A satellite before launch | |
| Names | S-45A NASA S-45A |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Ionosphere research |
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | EXS-451 |
| Mission duration | Failed to orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Explorer S-45A |
| Spacecraft type | Science Explorer |
| Bus | S-45 |
| Manufacturer | Goddard Space Flight Center |
| Launch mass | 33.6 kg (74 lb) |
| Power | Solar cells and batteries |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 24 May 1961, 19:48:05 GMT |
| Rocket | Juno II (AM-19G) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, LC-26B |
| Contractor | Army Ballistic Missile Agency |
| End of mission | |
| Destroyed | Failed to orbit |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit (planned) |
| Regime | Highly elliptical orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 221 km (137 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 181,100 km (112,500 mi) |
| Inclination | 33.0° |
| Period | 5013.90 minutes |
| Instruments | |
| Beacon | |
Explorer program | |
Launch
editExplorer S-45A was launched aboard a Juno II launch vehicle, serial number AM-19G. It was the final flight of the Juno II.[3] The launch took place from LC-26B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) at 19:48:05 GMT on 24 May 1961.[3] The system which was intended to ignite the second stage malfunctioned, and as a result that stage failed to ignite.[4] The launch vehicle failed to achieve orbit.[5]
References
edit
- ^ "Explorer S-45A". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "P-14". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan (21 July 2021). "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Explorer: S-45". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "Explorer Program". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2010. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
