Explorer 6

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

14:24:20

Friday August 7, 1959

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Mission Details

Explorer 6

Wiki

Explorer 6 was a small, spheroidal satellite designed to study trapped radiation of various energies, galactic cosmic rays, geomagnetism, radio propagation in the upper atmosphere, and the flux of micrometeorites. It also tested a scanning device designed for photographing the Earth's cloud cover, and transmitted the first pictures of Earth via satellite.

Highly Elliptical Orbit

1 Payload

64 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Thor DM-18 Able-III

Active in 1959


Stages

3

Launch Site

SLC-17A

Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Fastest Turnaround

11 days 12 hours

Stats

Thor-Able


4th

Mission

1st

Mission of 1959

1959


12th

Orbital launch attempt