United States Air ForceThor Able IIISpace Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Explorer 6
Launched
August 7, 1959
Image: NASA
Summary
Explorer 6 launched on an United States Air Force Thor Able III from Space Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on August 7, 1959. It was United States Air Force's 5th launch, 5th this year and humanity's 43rd orbital launch attempt. It was the 1st Thor Able III flight. The payload was bound for Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical).
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Thor Able III · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Earth Science · Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical)
- Milestone
- 1st Thor Able III flightUnited States Air Force's 5th launch5th this yearhumanity's 43rd orbital launch attempt12th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
About this launch
Explorer 6 was an American satellite designed to study trapped radiation of various energies, galactic cosmic rays, geomagnetism, radio propagation and the flux of micrometeorites. It also tested a scanning device designed for photographing the Earth's cloud cover, and transmitted the first pictures of Earth from a satellite.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
4th launch from Space Launch Complex 17A, 1st this year · 24th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
145 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
272 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Explorer 6 launch?
Explorer 6 launched on August 7, 1959. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Explorer 6?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Explorer 6?
Thor Able III, flown by United States Air Force. Thor Able III spec sheet
Where did Explorer 6 launch from?
Space Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.
What orbit was Explorer 6 going to?
Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical), a earth science mission.