Explorer 15
Explorer 15 was NASA’s spin-stabilized energetic-particle satellite launched on October 27, 1962 to study the artificial radiation belt created by the Starfish high-altitude nuclear test and the surrounding trapped-particle environment.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Explorer XVExplorer 151962 BETA LAMBDA 1EPE-C346/D014
- Name
- Explorer 15
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Explorer 15 was NASA’s spin-stabilized energetic-particle satellite launched on October 27, 1962 to study the artificial radiation belt created by the Starfish high-altitude nuclear test and the surrounding trapped-particle environment.
- Destination
- Highly elliptical geocentric Earth orbit at approximately 315 km perigee and 17,600 km apogee (5-hour period)
- End Date
- 1963-01-30
- Outcome
- Using particle detectors and a fluxgate magnetometer, Explorer 15 mapped the artificial radiation belt’s extent, composition, and decay and produced detailed ion and electron measurements before its final usable data in January 1963.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 1962-10-27
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19740012502
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 19:43:45 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 23, 2026 at 01:50:23 UTC
- Image
- Download
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles