Explorer S-45 was a NASA satellite, which was lost in a launch failure in February 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 10 had it reached orbit. A second identical satellite, Explorer S-45A, also failed to achieve orbit when it was launched.[2]
 Explorer S-45 satellite before launch | |
| Names | Explorer S-45 NASA S-45 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Ionospheric research |
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | EXS-451 |
| Mission duration | Failed to orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Explorer S-45 |
| 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 | 25 February 1961, 00:13:16 GMT |
| Rocket | Juno II (AM-19F) |
| 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-45 was launched aboard a Juno II launch vehicle, serial number AM-19F. The launch took place from Launch Complex 26B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) at 00:13:16 GMT on 25 February 1961.[3] The launch vehicle malfunctioned after the second stage separated, and contact with the payload was lost.[4] The third stages subsequently failed to ignite, resulting in the satellite failing to achieve orbit.[5]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Explorer S-45". NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 3 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 3 November 2021.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan (21 July 2021). "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "S-45 (Explorer (10), (12))". Gunter's Space Page. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "Explorer Program". Mission and Spacecraft Library JPL. NASA / JPL. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
