Explorer 11 S-15 first space gamma-ray astronomy spacecraft family
Explorer 11 was a NASA Earth-orbiting gamma-ray observatory launched April 27, 1961. Its detector, sensitive above 50 MeV, was the first space-borne gamma-ray telescope and recorded cosmic gamma-ray events that initiated space-based gamma-ray astronomy; useful observations continued into September 1961.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Explorer 11Explorer XIS-15Explorer 11 spacecraftGamma-ray Explorer 11
- Family Name
- Explorer 11
- Full Name
- Explorer 11 S-15 first space gamma-ray astronomy spacecraft family
- Roles
- orbiterobservatoryresearch
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Explorer 11 was a NASA Earth-orbiting gamma-ray observatory launched April 27, 1961. Its detector, sensitive above 50 MeV, was the first space-borne gamma-ray telescope and recorded cosmic gamma-ray events that initiated space-based gamma-ray astronomy; useful observations continued into September 1961.
- First Flight Year
- 1,961
- Last Flight Year
- 1,961
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- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 12:57:11 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 13, 2026 at 12:57:11 UTC