United States Air ForceThor-DeltaSpace Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Explorer 12
Launched
August 16, 1961
Image: San Diego Air & Space Museum
Summary
Explorer 12 launched on an United States Air Force Thor-Delta from Space Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on August 16, 1961. It was United States Air Force's 54th launch, 16th this year and humanity's 120th orbital launch attempt. It was the 3rd Thor-Delta flight. The payload was bound for Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical).
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Thor-Delta · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Heliophysics · Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical)
- Milestone
- 3rd Thor-Delta flightUnited States Air Force's 54th launch16th this yearhumanity's 120th orbital launch attempt27th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Explorer 12 (Energetic Particles Explorer A) was a NASA satellite sent into a highly elliptical orbit reaching about 77,000 km to study the solar wind, the interplanetary and geomagnetic fields, and the Van Allen belts. It returned data for 112 days before its power system failed.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
13th launch from Space Launch Complex 17A, 3rd this year · 64th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
145 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
34 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Explorer 12 launch?
Explorer 12 launched on August 16, 1961. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Explorer 12?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Explorer 12?
Thor-Delta, flown by United States Air Force. Thor-Delta spec sheet
Where did Explorer 12 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.
What orbit was Explorer 12 going to?
Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical), a heliophysics mission.