Explorer 6 S-2 Able 3 Earth-observing science satellite spacecraft family
Explorer 6 was a NASA Earth-orbiting science satellite launched August 7, 1959. Its experiments mapped radiation and magnetic fields, monitored the near-Earth environment, and transmitted the first satellite image of Earth cloud cover; transmissions ended October 6, 1959 and the spacecraft reentered before July 1961.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Explorer 6Explorer VIS-2Able 3Explorer 6 spacecraft
- Family Name
- Explorer 6
- Full Name
- Explorer 6 S-2 Able 3 Earth-observing science satellite spacecraft family
- Roles
- orbiterobservatoryresearch
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Explorer 6 was a NASA Earth-orbiting science satellite launched August 7, 1959. Its experiments mapped radiation and magnetic fields, monitored the near-Earth environment, and transmitted the first satellite image of Earth cloud cover; transmissions ended October 6, 1959 and the spacecraft reentered before July 1961.
- First Flight Year
- 1,959
- Last Flight Year
- 1,961
Links
- Official Url
- https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19640017753
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 12:49:46 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 13, 2026 at 12:49:46 UTC