NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Explorer 61 (Magsat-A)

Launch Time
Tue Oct 30, 1979 14:16 UTC

Rocket

Scout G1
US Air Force
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 622 kN
Payload to LEO: 210 kg
Payload to GTO: 0 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 21.0 m

Mission Details

Explorer 61

The Magsat project was a joint NASA/United States Geological Survey (USGS) effort to measure near-earth magnetic fields on a global basis. It was the third of a series of Applications Explorer Missions (AEM).

Objectives included obtaining an accurate description of the earth's magnetic field, obtaining data for use in the update and refinement of world and regional magnetic charts, compilation of a global crustal magnetic anomaly map, and interpretation of that map in terms of geologic/geophysical models of the earth's crust.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 158.0 kg
Polar Orbit

Location

SLC-5, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Stats

1979

98th orbital launch attempt

Scout

82nd mission
3rd mission of 1979
69th successful mission
31st consecutive successful mission