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Explorer 49

Explorer 49 was NASA's second Radio Astronomy Explorer and a lunar orbiter built to observe low-frequency emissions while shielded from terrestrial radio interference by the Moon.

Explorer 49
NASA · Stored JPEG is byte-identical to the NASA Science Explorer 49 asset rendition. The authoritative Explorer 49 mission page identifies this as an artist impression and credits NASA: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/explorer-49/. NASA current Images and Media guidance supports factual, educational, and informational reuse of NASA-produced content with acknowledgement; commercial use must not imply NASA endorsement, and third-party material plus NASA logos and identifiers remain separately restricted: https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/. This is a conservative reuse basis, not a blanket public-domain or commercial license. · Source
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Identity

Aliases
RAE-BRadio Astronomy Explorer B1973-039A
Name
Explorer 49
Status
completed

Details

Astronauts
-
Description
Explorer 49 was NASA's second Radio Astronomy Explorer and a lunar orbiter built to observe low-frequency emissions while shielded from terrestrial radio interference by the Moon.
Destination
Near-circular lunar orbit at approximately 1,052–1,063 km altitude (38.7° inclination)
End Date
1975-06
Launch Site
Outcome
Successfully entered lunar orbit, deployed its long antenna system, and studied solar-system and galactic radio sources; contact continued until August 1977.
Programs
Start Date
1973-06-10
Vehicle Families

Links

Official Url
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/explorer-49/

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
July 18, 2026 at 12:06:10 UTC
Updated Time
August 21, 2026 at 12:11:13 UTC
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Affiliations
Search Name
Explorer 49 RAE-B Radio Astronomy Explorer B 1973-039A
Space Stations
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Vehicles