Explorer program 9917 225174306 2008-07-12T08:03:24Z Rjwilmsi 203434 gen fixes + link/fix date fields in cite templates (explanation [[User:Rjwilmsi#My_correction_of_dates_in_templates|here]]) using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{otheruses|Explorer (disambiguation)}} The '''Explorer program''' was the [[United States]]'s first successful attempt to launch an [[satellite|artificial satellite]]. It began as a [[U.S. Army]] proposal to place a scientific satellite into [[orbit]] during the [[International Geophysical Year]]. That proposal was rejected in favor of the U.S. Navy's [[Project Vanguard]]. It was revived as a [[crash program]] to catch up with the [[Soviet Union]] after that nation's launch of [[Sputnik 1]] on [[October 4]], [[1957]]. (''See:'' [[Sputnik crisis]]) [[Explorer 1]] was launched [[January 31]] [[1958]]. Besides being the first U.S. satellite, it is known for discovering the [[Van Allen radiation belt]]. ==Explorer at NASA== [[Image:ISEE-C (ISEE 3) in dynamics test chamber.jpg|thumb|ISEE-C in a dynamic test chamber, 1978]] The Explorer program was taken over by [[NASA]], which continued to use the name for [[robotic spacecraft]] missions. Over the years, [[NASA]] has launched a series of "Explorer" [[spacecraft]] carrying a wide variety of scientific investigations. The list below identifies the 79 successful missions as of December 2004. As of this writing, Explorers 50 (IMP-8), 68-71, 73-74, 79-83 (SAMPEX, RXTE, FAST, ACE, TRACE, SWAS, WMAP, RHESSI, CHIPSat, GALEX and SWIFT) are still operating. NASA's Explorer spacecraft series not only is the longest running series of spacecraft, it has produced highly-durable, well-engineered spacecraft as well. Of the 79 successful Explorer missions depicted, five of them had missions that lasted 10 or more years, the longest of which (IMP-8) has been operational for over 26 years now and still produces valuable information about the solar wind. NASA's [[International Ultraviolet Explorer|IUE]] spacecraft operated for 19 years and produced copious amounts of data for the astronomical community. The ISEE 3/ICE spacecraft operated for 14 years. As of March 2000, of the ten operational Explorer missions, SNOE and TRACE have operated for about two years, ACE two and a half years, FAST for about three and a half, RXTE for over four, EUVE and SAMPEX for nearly eight, and IMP 8 for more than 26. SWAS has been operational for slightly more than one year, having been launched in early December 1998. ; Energetic Particle Explorers Explorers 12, 14, 15 and 26 were the S 3 series of spacecraft, known as Energetic Particle Explorers. They were [[spin-stabilized satellite|spin-stabilized]], solar-cell-powered spacecraft instrumented to measure [[cosmic ray]] particles, trapped particles, [[solar wind]] [[proton]]s, and magnetospheric and interplanetary magnetic fields.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1961-020A | title = Explorer 12 | publisher = [[NASA]] }}</ref> ==Mission History== <center> {| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" |+ '''Explorer Missions''' |- ! style="background:#efefef;" | Explorer ! style="background:#efefef;" | Name ! style="background:#efefef;" | Launch Date ! style="background:#efefef;" | Mission ! style="background:#efefef;" | End of Data ! style="background:#efefef;" | Re-Entry |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| [[Explorer 1]] || [[January 31]] [[1958]] || Energy particles studies, discovered the [[Van Allen radiation belt]] | [[May 23]] [[1958]] | [[March 31]] [[1970]] |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| [[Explorer 2]] || [[March 5]] [[1958]] || Failed to achieve orbit |align=center| - |align=center| - |- |align=center| 3 |align=center| [[Explorer 3]] || [[March 26]] [[1958]] || Energy particles studies | [[June 27]] [[1958]] | June 27 1958 |- |align=center| 4 |align=center| [[Explorer 4]] || [[July 26]] [[1958]] || Energy particles studies | [[October 5]] [[1958]] | [[October 23]] [[1959]] |- |align=center| 5 |align=center| [[Explorer 5]] || [[August 24]] [[1958]] || Failed to achieve orbit |align=center| - |align=center| - |- |align=center| -- |align=center| S-1 || [[July 16]] [[1959]] || Failed to achieve orbit |align=center| - |align=center| - |- |align=center| 6 |align=center| [[Explorer 6|S-2]] || [[August 7]] [[1959]] || Magnetosphere research | [[October 6]] [[1959]] | [[July 1]] [[1961]] |- |align=center| 7 |align=center| [[Explorer 7|S-1a]] || [[October 13]] [[1959]] || Energy particles studies | [[August 24]] [[1961]] | In orbit |- |align=center| -- |align=center| S-46 || [[March 23]] [[1960]] || Failed to achieve orbit |align=center| - |align=center| - |- |align=center| 8 |align=center| [[Explorer 8|S-56]] || [[November 3]] [[1960]] || Measured atmospheric composition of the ionosphere |align=center| ? | in orbit |- |align=center| -- |align=center| S-56 || [[December 4]] [[1960]] || Failed to achieve orbit |align=center| - |align=center| - |- |align=center| 9 |align=center| S-56a || [[February 16]] [[1961]] || Atmospheric density measurements |align=center| ? | [[April 9]] [[1964]] |- |align=center| -- |align=center| S-45 || [[February 24]] [[1961]] || Failed to achieve orbit |align=center| - |align=center| - |- |align=center| 10 |align=center| P-14 || [[March 25]] [[1961]] || Investigated field magnetic field between the earth |align=center| ? | [[June 1]] [[1968]] |- |align=center| 11 |align=center| [[Explorer 11|S-15]] || [[April 27]] [[1961]] || Gamma ray astronomy |align=center| ? | In orbit |- |align=center| -- |align=center| S-45a || [[May 25]] [[1961]] || Failed to achieve orbit |align=center| - |align=center| - |- |align=center| -- |align=center| S-55 || [[June 30]] [[1961]] || Failed to achieve orbit |align=center| - |align=center| - |- |align=center| 12 |align=center| EPE A || [[August 16]] [[1961]] || Energetic particles research |align=center| ? | [[September 1]] [[1963]] |- |align=center| 13 |align=center| S-55a || [[August 25]] [[1961]] || Micrometeoroids research |align=center| ? | In orbit |- |align=center| 14 |align=center| EPE B || [[October 2]] [[1962]] || Energetic particles research |align=center| ? | [[July 1]] [[1966]] |- |align=center| 15 |align=center| EPE C || [[October 27]] [[1962]] || Energetic particles research |align=center| ? |[[January 15]] [[1978]] |- |align=center| 16 |align=center| S-55b || [[December 16]] [[1962]] || Micrometeoroids research |align=center|? |[[November 24]] [[1966]]? |- |align=center| 17 |align=center| [[Explorer 17|AE A]] || [[April 3]] [[1963]] || Atmospheric research | [[July 10]] [[1963]] | [[November 24]] [[1966]]? |- |align=center| 18 |align=center| IMP A || [[November 27]] [[1963]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |[[December 30]] [[1965]] |- |align=center| 19 |align=center| AD A || [[December 19]] [[1963]] || Atmospheric density measurements |align=center|? |[[May 10]] [[1981]] |- |align=center| 20 |align=center| IE A || [[August 25]] [[1964]] || Ionosphere research |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 21 |align=center| IMP B || [[October 4]] [[1964]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |[[January 30]] [[1966]] |- |align=center| 22 |align=center| BE B (S-66) || [[October 10]] [[1964]] || Ionospheric and geodetic research |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 23 |align=center| Explorer 23 (S-55c) || [[November 6]] [[1964]] || Micrometeoric research |align=center|? |[[June 29]] [[1983]] |- |align=center| 24 |align=center| AD B || [[November 21]] [[1964]] || Atmospheric density measurements |align=center|? |[[October 18]] [[1968]] |- |align=center| 25 |align=center| Injun 4 (IE B) || [[November 21]] [[1964]] || Ionospheric research |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 26 |align=center| EPE D || [[December 21]] [[1964]] || High energy particle observations |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 27 |align=center| IMP C || [[April 29]] [[1965]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 28 |align=center| IMP C || [[May 29]] [[1965]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |[[July 4]] [[1968]] |- |align=center| 29 |align=center| [[Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite|GEOS A]] || [[November 6]] [[1965]] || Geodetic earth monitoring |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 30 |align=center| [[Solrad]] 8 (SE A) || [[November 19]] [[1965]] || Solar radiation monitoring<br>(Cover for covert [[ELINT]] mission) |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 31 |align=center| DME A || [[November 29]] [[1965]] || Ionospheric research |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 32 |align=center| [[Explorer 32|AE B]] || [[May 25]] [[1966]] || Atmospheric research |March 1967 |[[February 22]] [[1985]] |- |align=center| 33 |align=center| [[Explorer 33|IMP D]] || [[July 1]] [[1966]] || Magnetospheric research | [[September 21]] [[1971]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1966-058A |title=Explorer 33 (NSSDC ID: 1966-058A) |publisher=NASA / National Space Science Data Center |date=2008-04-02 |accessdate=2008-07-04 }}</ref> |In orbit |- |align=center| 34 |align=center| IMP F || [[May 24]] [[1967]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |[[May 3]] [[1969]] |- |align=center| 35 |align=center| [[Explorer 35|IMP E]] || [[July 19]] [[1967]] || Magnetospheric research |[[June 24]] [[1973]] |align=center|? |- |align=center| 36 |align=center| [[Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite|GEOS B]] || [[January 11]] [[1968]] || Geodetic earth monitoring |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 37 |align=center| Solrad 9 (SE B) || [[March 5]] [[1968]] || Solar radiation monitoring<br>(Cover for covert ELINT mission) |align=center|? |[[November 16]] [[1990]] |- |align=center| 38 |align=center| RAE A || [[July 4]] [[1968]] || Radio astronomy |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 39 |align=center| AD C || [[August 8]] [[1968]] || Atmospheric density measurements |align=center|? |[[June 22]] [[1981]] |- |align=center| 40 |align=center| Injun 5 (IE C) || [[August 8]] [[1968]] || Magnetospheric Research |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 41 |align=center| IMP G || [[June 21]] [[1969]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |[[December 23]] [[1972]] |- |align=center| 42 |align=center| [[Uhuru (satellite)|SAS A]] || [[December 12]] [[1970]] || X-Ray Astronomy |March 1973 |[[April 5]] [[1979]] |- |align=center| 43 |align=center| IMP H || [[March 13]] [[1971]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |[[October 2]] [[1974]] |- |align=center| 44 |align=center| Solrad 10 (SE C) || [[July 8]] [[1971]] || Solar radiation monitoring<br>(Cover for covert ELINT mission) |align=center|? |[[December 15]] [[1979]] |- |align=center| 45 |align=center| SSS A || [[November 15]] [[1971]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |[[January 10]] [[1992]] |- |align=center| 46 |align=center| MTS A || [[August 13]] [[1972]] || Micrometeoroids research |align=center|? |[[November 2]] [[1979]] |- |align=center| 47 |align=center| IMP I || [[September 23]] [[1972]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 48 |align=center| [[Second Small Astronomy Satellite|SAS B]] || [[November 15]] [[1972]] || X-Ray Astronomy |align=center|? |[[August 20]] [[1980]] |- |align=center| 49 |align=center| [[Explorer 49|RAE B]] || [[June 10]] [[1973]] || Radio astronomy |align=center|? |In Lunar orbit |- |align=center| 50 |align=center| IMP J || [[October 26]] [[1973]] || Magnetospheric research |'''Operational (34 years)''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 51 |align=center| AE C || [[December 16]] [[1973]] || Atmospheric research |align=center|? |[[December 12]] [[1978]] |- |align=center| 52 |align=center| [[Explorer 52|Hawkeye 1, Injun 6 (IE D)]] || [[June 3]] [[1974]] || Magnetospheric research |[[April 28]] [[1978]] |[[April 28]] [[1978]] |- |align=center| 53 |align=center| [[Third Small Astronomy Satellite|SAS C]] || [[May 7]] [[1975]] || X-Ray Astronomy |align=center|? |[[April 9]] [[1979]] |- |align=center| 54 |align=center| AE D || [[October 6]] [[1975]] || Atmospheric research |align=center|? |[[March 12]] [[1976]] |- |align=center| 55 |align=center| AE E || [[November 20]] [[1975]] || Atmospheric research |align=center|? |[[January 10]] [[1981]] |- |align=center| 56 |align=center| ISEE 1 || [[October 22]] [[1977]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |[[September 26]] [[1987]] |- |align=center| 57 |align=center| [[International Ultraviolet Explorer|IUE]] || [[January 26]] [[1978]] || Ultraviolet astronomy |[[September 30]] [[1996]] |In orbit |- |align=center| 58 |align=center| HCMM || [[April 26]] [[1978]] || Thermal mapping of the earth |align=center|? |align=center|? |- |align=center| 59 |align=center| ISEE 3 ([[International Cometary Explorer|ICE]]) || [[August 12]] [[1978]] || Magnetospheric research |[[May 5]] [[1997]] |In [[heliocentric]] orbit |- |align=center| 60 |align=center| SAGE || [[February 18]] [[1979]] || Stratospheric aerosol and ozone data |align=center|? |[[April 11]] [[1989]] |- |align=center| 61 |align=center| [[Magsat]] || [[October 30]] [[1979]] || Mapped the near surface magnetic field of the Earth |align=center|? |[[June 11]] [[1980]] |- |align=center| 62 |align=center| DE 1 || [[August 3]] [[1981]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |align=center|? |- |align=center| 63 |align=center| DE 2 || [[August 3]] [[1981]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |align=center|? |- |align=center| 64 |align=center| [[Solar Mesosphere Explorer|SME]] || [[October 6]] [[1981]] || Atmospheric research |[[April 4]] [[1989]] |[[March 5]] [[1991]] |- |align=center| 65 |align=center| [[Charge Composition Explorer|CCE]] || [[August 16]] [[1984]] || Magnetospheric research |align=center|? |align=center|? |- |align=center| 66 |align=center| [[COBE]] || [[November 18]] [[1989]] || Microwave astronomy |operational? |In orbit |- |align=center| 67 |align=center| [[Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer|EUVE]] || [[June 7]] [[1992]] || Ultraviolet astronomy |[[January 30]] [[2002]] |In orbit |- |align=center| 68 |align=center| [[Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer|SAMPEX]] || [[July 3]] [[1992]] || Magnetospheric research |operational? |In orbit |- |align=center| 69 |align=center| [[Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer|RXTE]] || [[December 30]] [[1995]] || X-ray astronomy |'''Operational (11 years)''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 70 |align=center| [[Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer|FAST]] || [[August 21]] [[1996]] || Auroral phenomena |operational? |In orbit |- |align=center| 71 |align=center| [[Advanced Composition Explorer|ACE]] || [[August 25]] [[1997]] || Solar/interplanetary/interstellar particle research |'''Operational (11 years)''' |In [[Lissajous orbit]] |- |align=center| 72 |align=center| [[Student Nitric Oxide Explorer|SNOE]] || [[February 26]] [[1998]] || Atmospheric research |[[December 13]] [[2003]] |[[December 13]] [[2003]] |- |align=center| 73 |align=center| [[TRACE]] || [[April 2]] [[1998]] || Solar observatory |'''Operational (10 years)''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 74 |align=center| [[Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite|SWAS]] || [[December 6]] [[1998]] || Submillimeter astronomy |July 2004 hibernation<br>August 2005 after Deep Impact sub-mission |In orbit |- |align=center| 75 |align=center| [[Wide Field Infrared Explorer|WIRE]] || [[March 5]] [[1999]] || InfraRed astronomy, primary mission failed due to loss of coolant |operational? |In orbit |- |align=center| 76 |align=center| TERRIERS || [[May 18]] [[1999]] || Atmospheric research, satellite failed shortly after achieving orbit |align=center|? |In orbit |- |align=center| 77 |align=center| [[Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer|FUSE]] || [[June 23]] [[1999]] || Ultraviolet astronomy |[[October 18]] [[2007]] |In orbit |- |align=center| 78 |align=center| [[IMAGE]] || [[March 25]] [[2000]] || Magnetospheric research |[[December 18]], [[2005]] |In orbit |- |align=center| 79 |align=center| [[HETE]] || [[October 9]] [[2000]] || UV, X-Ray, and gamma ray astronomy |'''Operational (7 years)''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 80 |align=center| [[WMAP]] || [[June 30]] [[2001]] || Microwave astronomy |'''Operational (6 years)''' |In L2 orbit |- |align=center| 81 |align=center| [[RHESSI]] || [[February 5]] [[2002]] || X-ray and gamma ray solar flare imaging |'''Operational (6 years)''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 82 |align=center| [[CHIPSat]] || [[January 13]] [[2003]] || Ultraviolet spectroscopy and astronomy |[[April 11]] [[2008]] <ref>[http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1417075/chipsat_quietly_shut_down/ CHIPSat quietly shut down]</ref> |In orbit |- |align=center| 83 |align=center| [[GALEX]] || [[April 28]] [[2003]] || Ultraviolet astronomy |'''Operational (5 years)''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 84 |align=center| [[Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission|SWIFT]] || [[November 20]] [[2004]] || Gamma ray astronomy |'''Operational (3 years)''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 85 |align=center| [[THEMIS (satellite)|THEMIS]] || [[February 17]] [[2007]] || Magnetospheric research |'''Operational''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 86 |align=center| [[THEMIS (satellite)|THEMIS]] || [[February 17]] [[2007]] || Magnetospheric research |'''Operational''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 87 |align=center| [[THEMIS (satellite)|THEMIS]] || [[February 17]] [[2007]] || Magnetospheric research |'''Operational''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 88 |align=center| [[THEMIS (satellite)|THEMIS]] || [[February 17]] [[2007]] || Magnetospheric research |'''Operational''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 89 |align=center| [[THEMIS (satellite)|THEMIS]] || [[February 17]] [[2007]] || Magnetospheric research |'''Operational''' |In orbit |- |align=center| 90 |align=center| [[Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere|AIM]] | [[April 25]] [[2007]] | Noctilucent cloud observation |'''Operational''' |In orbit |} </center> == References == {{reflist}} == See also == * [[Small Explorer program]] == External links == * [http://explorers.gsfc.nasa.gov/missions.html NASA Explorer program missions page] * [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=Explorer_Moon Explorer Program Profile] by [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov NASA's Solar System Exploration] * [http://w3.armed.us/explorer 1957 Video (30 minutes) on launch and impact of Explorer] * [http://www.cira.colostate.edu/cira/RAMM//hillger/acronyms.htm Master list of Names, Initialisms, and Abbreviations for un-manned satellites] {{Explorer program}} {{NASA planetary exploration programs}} [[Category:Explorer program]] [[Category:NASA]] [[Category:NASA probes]] [[bg:Експлорър (програма)]] [[de:Explorer-Programm]] [[fr:Programme Explorer]] [[it:Programma Explorer]] [[lv:Explorer programma]] [[pl:Program Explorer]] [[sv:Explorer program]]