Explorer 12

Explorer 12 (also known as S3) was a United States Satellite built to measure the solar wind, cosmic rays, and the Earth's magnetic field.[1] It was launched on 16 August 1961, aboard a Thor-Delta launch vehicle.[2] Explorer 12 was the first of four S3 series spacecraft. It ceased transmitting on 6 December 1961 due to power failure.

Explorer 12
Explorer 12 satellite
NamesEPE-A
Explorer XII
S3-A
Mission typeSpace physics
OperatorNASA
Harvard designation1961 Upsilon 1
COSPAR ID1961-020A
SATCAT no.00170
Mission duration112 days (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
BusS3
ManufacturerGSFC
Launch mass37.6 kg (83 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date16 August 1961,
03:21:25 GMT
RocketThor-Delta
Launch siteCape Canaveral, LC-17B
ContractorDouglas Aircraft Company
End of mission
Last contact6 December 1961
Decay date1 September 1963
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude790 km (490 mi)
Apogee altitude77,620 km (48,230 mi)
Inclination33.40°
Period1587.00 minutes
 

This satellite was launched from the Atlantic Missile Range by a Delta launch vehicle on 16 August 1961. Its objective was the investigation solar wind, interplanetary magnetic fields, distant portions of the Earth's magnetic field, and energetic particles in interplanetary space and in the Van Allen belt.

The spacecraft weighed 37.6 kg (83 lb). Its instrumentation included 10 particle detection systems for the measurement of protons and electrons and their relation to magnetic fields, a solar cell damage experiment, optical aspect sensor and one transmitter.

The spacecraft achieved orbit and all instrumentation operated normally. Its transmitter ceased operations on 6 December 1961, after sending 2568 hours of real time data. During its life of 112 days, it completed 102 orbits and data was acquired approximately 80% of the time. This satellite provided significant geophysical data on radiation and magnetic storms.[3]

Instruments

Explorer 12 was designed to study space physics, and so had a multitude of instruments including a cosmic-ray detector, a particle trapper, and a magnetometer. Good data was recorded for 90% of the mission.[3]

References
  1. Display: Explorer 12 1961-020A NASA This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Trajectory: Explorer 12 1961-020A NASA This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. "Explorer 12". facebook.com. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
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