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IMP-8 / Explorer 50
IMP-8 / Explorer 50 -

Credit: NASA. 5,427 bytes. 219 x 207 pixels.



Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Nation: USA. Agency: NASA.

Radiation data; Interplanetary Monitoring Program. The IMP series were managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center with the primary objectives of investigation of interplanetary plasma and the interplanetary magnetic field. The orbiting of IMP satellites in a variety of interplanetary and earth orbits allowed study of spatial and temporal relationships of geophysical and interplanetary phenomena simultaneously by several other National Aeronautics and Space Administration satellites. The IMP network provided a crucial 'early warning network' of solar flare activity for Apollo manned missions that ventured beyond the Van Allen Radiation Belts.


Specification


IMP Chronology


27 November 1963 Explorer 18 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Mass: 62 kg. Perigee: 192 km. Apogee: 197,616 km. Inclination: 33.3 deg.

Radiation data; Interplanetary Monitoring Program. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).


04 October 1964 Explorer 21 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Mass: 62 kg. Perigee: 191 km. Apogee: 95,590 km. Inclination: 33.5 deg.

Lower than planned orbit. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).


04 May 1965 Three-station Apollo Solar Particle Alert Network ordered Program: Apollo.

NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight George E. Mueller concurred with a plan of MSC Director Robert R. Gilruth to implement a three-station developmental Solar Particle Alert Network. Mueller said he understood that Gilruth would "review the necessity for the Guaymas station, and that you will examine having all data reduction related to this network carried out under contract," and adding that he felt the program would be enhanced if arrangement could be made to involve one or more academic institutions in the analysis of data.


29 May 1965 Explorer 28 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Delta C. Mass: 58 kg. Perigee: 229 km. Apogee: 261,206 km. Inclination: 30.5 deg.

Magnetic field, radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).


01 July 1966 Explorer 33 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Delta E. Mass: 93 kg. Perigee: 85,228 km. Apogee: 481,417 km. Inclination: 40.9 deg.

Intended to enter lunar orbit. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).


24 May 1967 Explorer 34 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Delta E. Mass: 75 kg. Perigee: 242 km. Apogee: 214,379 km. Inclination: 67.1 deg.


IMP-AIMP-A

Credit: NASA. 30,129 bytes. 339 x 375 pixels.


Radiation, magnetic field data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).
19 July 1967 Explorer 35 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Delta E. Mass: 104 kg.

Earth magnetic tail measurements. Lunar Orbit (Selenocentric). The Westinghouse Aerospace Division, under contract to National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Goddard Space Flight Center, engaged in the system design, integration, assembly and launch support for Anchored Interplanetary Monitoring Platform Satellite, officially designated Explorer 35 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It was launched on July 19, 1967, with the primary objectives of investigation of interplanetary plasma and the interplanetary magnetic field out to and at the lunar distance, in either a captured lunar orbit or a geocentric orbit of the earth. In the geocentric orbit, the apogee was near or beyond the lunar distance. In a lunar orbit, additional objectives included obtaining data on dust distribution, lunar gravitational field, ionosphere, magnetic field, and radiation environment around the moon. AIMP-E also studied spatial and temporal relationships of geophysical and interplanetary phenomena simultaneously being studied by several other National Aeronautics and Space Administration satellites. The investigation in the vicinity of the moon provided for measurements of the characteristics of the interplanetary dust distribution, solar and galactic cosmic rays, as well as a study of the magnetohydrodynamic wake of the earth in the interplanetary medium at the lunar distances.


21 June 1969 Explorer 41 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Delta E. Mass: 174 kg. Perigee: 80,374 km. Apogee: 98,159 km. Inclination: 86.0 deg.

Cislunar radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).


13 March 1971 Explorer 43 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Delta M. Mass: 288 kg. Perigee: 1,845 km. Apogee: 203,130 km. Inclination: 31.2 deg.

Earth magnetosphere research. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).


23 September 1972 Explorer 47 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Delta 1914. Mass: 376 kg. Perigee: 201,100 km. Apogee: 235,600 km. Inclination: 17.2 deg.

Investigated cislunar radiation, Earth's magnetosphere, interplantary magnetic field. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).


26 October 1973 Explorer 50 Program: Explorer. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Delta 1914. Mass: 371 kg. Perigee: 141,185 km. Apogee: 288,857 km. Inclination: 28.7 deg.

Solar flare and radiation monitor. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).



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