Explorer 13 (Micrometeoroid Satellite)
Explorer 13 was NASA’s dedicated micrometeoroid satellite, launched on August 25, 1961 to measure particle impacts and penetration hazards in near-Earth space.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Explorer XIIIExplorer 131961 CHINASA S-55AMicrometeoroid Satellite Explorer XIII
- Name
- Explorer 13 (Micrometeoroid Satellite)
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Explorer 13 was NASA’s dedicated micrometeoroid satellite, launched on August 25, 1961 to measure particle impacts and penetration hazards in near-Earth space.
- Destination
- Elliptical low Earth orbit at approximately 113 km perigee and 1,147 km apogee (37.7° inclination; 97-minute period)
- End Date
- 1961-08-28
- Outcome
- A Scout fourth-stage malfunction left Explorer 13 in a much lower orbit than planned; it reentered after roughly three days and returned no significant impact data, while demonstrating micrometeoroid-detector instrumentation.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 1961-08-25
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19650002602
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 19:38:45 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 21, 2026 at 10:44:18 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles