NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Explorer 41 (IMP-G)

Launch Time
Sat Jun 21, 1969 08:47 UTC

Rocket

Delta E1
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Payload to GTO: 205 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 3

Mission Details

Explorer 41 (IMP-G)

Explorer 41 (IMP-G) was a spin-stabilized spacecraft placed into a high-inclination, highly elliptic orbit to measure energetic particles, magnetic fields, and plasma in cislunar space. The line of apsides and the satellite spin vector were within a few degrees of being parallel and normal, respectively, to the ecliptic plane. Initial local time of apogee was about 1300 h. Initial satellite spin rate was 27.5 rpm. The basic telemetry sequence was 20.48 s. The spacecraft functioned very well from launch until it decayed from orbit on December 23, 1972. Data transmission was nearly 100% for the spacecraft life except for the interval from November 15, 1971, to February 1, 1972, when data acquisition was limited to the vicinity of the magnetotail neutral sheet.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 175.0 kg
Highly Elliptical Orbit

Location

SLC-2W, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

1969

61st orbital launch attempt

Delta E

22nd mission
3rd mission of 1969
22nd successful mission